THE police play a vital role in public education by fostering awareness and understanding of laws, community safety, and crime prevention. Through programmes such as school visits, community workshops, and public awareness campaigns, they educate citizens on topics ranging from road safety and drug abuse prevention to cybercrime awareness and personal security. These initiatives help build trust between the police and the public, encourage cooperation in maintaining law and order, and empower individuals to make informed decisions. By addressing misconceptions and bridging communication gaps, the police create a well-informed society that actively upholds peace and safety.
In many developed countries, police departments actively engage in educating toddlers and schoolchildren through digital platforms, audio-visual materials, and interactive sessions. These initiatives aim to enhance safety awareness, prevent crime, and build positive relationships between law enforcement and the community from an early age. Digital platforms such as mobile apps, websites, and e-learning portals provide interactive games, quizzes, animated videos, and virtual reality simulations to teach children about topics like personal safety, road rules, cyber awareness, and emergency preparedness. Schools often collaborate with police to integrate educational videos, live webinars, and storytelling sessions into their curriculum, focusing on issues like anti-bullying, drug prevention, and responsible online behaviour. Additionally, community-based digital engagement, such as child-friendly social media pages and YouTube channels, helps disseminate safety lessons through short clips, cartoons, and parental guidance content.
Beyond education, these initiatives encourage children to report concerns and trust law enforcement with tools like anonymous reporting apps, online safety pledges, and mentorship programmes. International best practices include programmes like McGruff the Crime Dog in the US, ThinkUKnow in the UK, Australia, and Canada and Drug Abuse Resistance Education, which blend online and in-person learning. Such efforts ensure that children grow up with the knowledge and confidence to navigate risks safely while fostering a cooperative relationship with the police. By leveraging digital technology, law enforcement agencies create a more informed and proactive generation capable of making responsible choices in everyday life.
People expect the police to be humane and compassionate toward anyone seeking assistance or guidance. In busy cities, where finding directions or locating an address can be challenging, individuals often turn to traffic police for help. Despite being engrossed in managing chaotic traffic in major cities of Bangladesh, traffic police are frequently approached for guidance, as they are seen as reliable sources of direction and assistance. A restless toddler or a school-going child, hesitant to cross a busy road due to reckless motorcyclists or unruly rickshaw pullers, looks to traffic police for help. In such cases, people expect traffic officers to prioritise their safety and escort them across the road.
Managing traffic in cities like Dhaka is no easy task, with officers enduring extreme weather conditions, severe air pollution, and the stress of enforcing laws in challenging environments. Yet, the public expects traffic police to remain respectful and empathetic, treating pedestrians, drivers, vehicle owners, and rickshaw pullers fairly, even when addressing minor infractions. Beyond enforcing the law, traffic police play a crucial role in fostering trust through acts of kindness, such as offering directions, ensuring safe crossings, or assisting during emergencies. Although such tasks may not be part of their formal duties, these small gestures significantly enhance the relationship between the police and the public, strengthening mutual respect and understanding.
听
Police as mediators
THE security issues in society often involve a complex interplay of factors beyond the control of the police. Still, people hope that they are the key players in the resolution of any problem. For example, garment factory workers facing retrenchment or delayed payments may be driven to protest. Such protests often spill onto the streets, causing traffic blockages and bringing vehicle movement to a standstill or sometimes creating a grave law and order situation. The responsibility to restore order and ease traffic then falls on the police, with public expectations focused solely on their ability to resolve the immediate disruption. However, the police have no authority over the underlying issues that led to the workers鈥� protest, making their task particularly challenging. People expect the police to manage such volatile situations with careful balance, adhering to both national and international protocols. It is anticipated that the use of force will be measured and never excessive.
Recently, college students blocked major roads in protest, demanding their college be granted university status. These blockades result in significant traffic disruptions and considerable inconvenience for commuters. In such cases, the police often step in as mediators, facilitating the negotiation of a resolution between the involved parties. Furthermore, the police must intervene in disputes between rival groups, whether the situation involves lethal or non-lethal means. However, this can sometimes result in the police being drawn into a tripartite struggle, where both factions target them, leaving the police caught in the crossfire. In such cases, police should de-escalate, mediate, or, in extreme cases, resort to the use of force laid down by the law.
The police play a critical role in restorative justice by acting as facilitators of reconciliation, accountability, and healing within communities. Beyond their traditional enforcement duties, police officers can initiate restorative processes by bringing offenders, victims, and community members together to address harm and find collaborative solutions. By fostering dialogue, they help offenders take responsibility for their actions, enabling victims to voice their experiences and receive validation and support. The police also serve as bridges between the justice system and local communities, promoting trust and cooperation through transparent and empathetic interactions. Their involvement in restorative justice practices not only reduces recidivism but also strengthens social cohesion, ensuring that justice is not solely punitive but also transformative and inclusive.
Public education is a vital aspect of law enforcement, helping to build awareness, foster cooperation, and create a well-informed society. Through school programmes, digital platforms, and community outreach, the police educate citizens on crime prevention, road safety, and personal security, strengthening public trust and encouraging responsible behaviour. Traffic police, in particular, play a crucial role not only in enforcing regulations but also in providing assistance, offering guidance, and ensuring public safety, especially in busy urban areas. By embracing digital tools and compassionate engagement, law enforcement agencies can enhance their connection with the public, creating a safer and more cooperative society.
Police play a crucial role in mediating public disputes and maintaining order, often intervening in protests, conflicts, and disruptions despite having no control over their root causes. By acting as facilitators of dialogue and restorative justice, they help de-escalate tensions, promote accountability, and foster community trust. Their ability to balance law enforcement with mediation ensures that justice is not only enforced but also transformative, strengthening social cohesion and public confidence in policing.
To be continued
听
Dr Md Motiar Rahman is a retired deputy inspector general of police.
