The burgeoning challenges of rising crime, population density, and traffic congestion in Bengaluru underscore a critical disparity: the stagnant police-to-public ratio. Despite the pressing need for additional officers, successive governments have hesitated to augment police numbers due to concerns over increased expenditure.
With a staggering 3,814 vacancies, including essential roles like 1,825 police constables (PCs) and 347 police sub-inspectors (PSIs), the shortage poses significant hurdles in maintaining law and order and ensuring public safety. Even the sanctioned police strength falls short of meeting the demands of the city’s current population of 1.4 million.
According to the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D), the ideal ratio dictates 170 civil police personnel per 1 lakh population, suggesting a requirement of 21,720 personnel to effectively police the city. However, Bengaluru currently hosts only 15,475 policemen and officers, including DCPs and ACPs, revealing a substantial deficit.
Ramesh ST, retired DG&IGP, highlightedthe indispensable role of manpower in policing, noting the necessity for a constant recruitment cycle to address vacancies arising from retirements, promotions, and other factors. He stressed the need to bolster the recruitment branch with senior and middle-level officers to forecast and fulfill personnel requirements promptly.
Despite repeated proposals from the police department to augment sanctioned police strength, bureaucratic delays driven by budgetary constraints hinder progress. The slow pace of growth in the police force fails to align with the city’s exponential expansion across various sectors, exacerbating the existing mismatch.
A senior police officer highlighted the pivotal roles of constables and sub-inspectors, emphasizing their significance in executing diverse tasks ranging from crime detection to administrative duties. Expanding and recruiting personnel would not only alleviate the workload but also enhance operational efficiency.
As Bengaluru grapples with multifaceted challenges, bridging the gap between the city’s growth and police capacity remains imperative to ensure effective law enforcement and safeguard public well-being.
