Feudal Forces: Democratic Nations - Police Accountability in

FEUDAL FORCES: DEMOCRATIC NATIONSRecommendationsCHRI is committed to promoting a model of democratic policing in which the police are: Subject to the rule of law and responsible to protect human rights; Accountable to a variety of institutions; Transparent about policies, decisions and actions taken in most spheres of their work; Responsive to the people they serve; and Representative of the people they serve.This is the model of policing that democracy demands and governments are duty bound toprovide. Reforming policing across the Commonwealth requires amending and refininglaws, putting in place innovative institutional arrangements and changing the culture withinpolice organisations. With political will and the effort and cooperation of governments,police officials and civil society, democratic policing will become a reality.Summary of findingsPolice reform in South Asia is too important to neglect and too urgent todelay.There is widespread police abuse of powers that adversely effect theenjoyment of rights in South Asia.The public experience of policing is largely characterised by torture, extrajudicialexecutions, disappearances, excessive use of force, failure to followdue process, bias, discrimination and corruption.Police accountability – from accountability to the community to accountabilityto the executive, judiciary and parliament – is critical in solving the problemsposed by South Asian policing.Impunity and illegitimate political interference in policing prevent policeaccountability.Existing accountability mechanisms must be strengthened and new onescreated. The crucial role of independent civilian oversight must be recognised.The process and criteria of appointments to accountability systems must befair and transparent. Mechanisms must be adequately resourced, andgovernments and police must respect their recommendations and decisions.Reform is prevented by a lack of political will. Political will can be createdthrough public support and opinion.Police reform must take place with the close engagement of and in consultationwith the community and civil society.84 :: POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IN SOUTH ASIASouth Asian Commonwealth countries must:Ratify international human rights treaties within a set time frame and consistently report onand monitor the implementation of past commitments.Affirm compliance with the standards of policing required by the International Bill of Rights,the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, and the UN Basic Principles on theUse of Force and Firearms.Review and recast police laws, rules and regulations, especially those that pre-date the1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to incorporate and further the principles ofdemocratic policing.