The Union Government has urged the Odisha Government to establish a State Police University. This would be a new kind of institution to strengthen the policing system.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has written to the State Government on Wednesday that in order to develop an institution of Police Sciences and Technology, Criminal Justice, Security, Public Safety and Management for bringing about excellence in these and related domain, a State Police University is needed to be set up in the State.
MHA Additional Secretary (Police) M Gopal Reddy in his letter has urged the State Government to take up steps in this regard on a priority basis, said sources.
Reddy has pointed out that this issue was discussed at length at the DGPs’ conference held at Rann of Kuchchh in 2015 and recommendation was made that all State Governments should set up State Police Universities.
He has informed that there are already two such State Police Universities functioning in the country, Sardar Patel University of Police at Jodhpur in Rajasthan and Raksh Shakti University in Gujarat. Both these universities have relevant faculties dedicated to undertake interdisciplinary studies on the States’ requirements.
Reddy has pointed out that a number of States have not taken up such an initiative given the size of the nation vis-à-vis duties enjoined upon the police forces to deal with various shades of crimes and criminals. The need of the hour is to empower the police forces with the latest knowledge, technology and management to deal with these elements.
Reddy said “Police” and “law & Order”, being the State Subject as per Constitution, steps for establishment of police grooming institutions or a university are to be undertaken by the State Government.
The Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPRD) would be providing guidelines and other information needed to set up a State Police University, said Reddy.
The proposed university would undertake interdisciplinary research in the field of policing leading to evidence-based strategies to be implemented by the State Government.
The university would prepare a pool of students and youths which would have domain knowledge in different disciplines of law enforcement, investigation, studies on crime and criminals and other related issues, said he.
This institution would bring innovation in the field of policing and law enforcement. The proposed university would be able to create scientific temper among youths so that they become agents of social change, said Reddy.
Sources said that after receiving the proposal, the Department of Home (DoH) of Odisha is deliberating over the issue and soon the State Government would take a decision in this regard, said DoH sources.