Analysis of Various Factors Contributing To Police Corruption In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

Around the world police institution has been established for ensuring peace, enforcing law and protecting life and property of public. Policeplays a vital role in controlling crimes in society and their services are considered as good, but police corruption has also been occurred throughout history and therefore it is by no means a new phenomenon. In Pakistan too police are perceived as corrupt and there exist various social, economic, political and structural causes of police corruption.The multiplicity of these causes and its aftermaths in delivery of justice require immense research in the field. Looking into the issue the current study was conducted in province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan to know the opinion of in-service police about prevalence of corruption in police department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the contributing factors which compel police personnel for corruption. Data was collected through structured questionnaires from in-service police, using purposive sampling techniques. The data collected from 150 respondents who were serving in police department.According to findings of the study 88.7% respondents opined that corruption prevails in police department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The study identified low salaries, lack of accountability, recruitment through bribes, political patronage, corruption of senior officers, lack of public awareness and lack of resources as major causes of police corruption. To eliminate corruption from police department, the study suggestsstrict and unbiased accountability, increase in salaries, public awareness,discouraging political interference, establishment of an independent commission for controlling corruption and strict disciplinary action against those involved in corruption.