General Public Perception Regarding Police Department and Factors That Influence Police Image in Public: A Case Study of District Kasur, Pakistan

Abstract

This study was attempted to investigate the general public perception about police department and factors that influence them perception. Policing is a major controlling part of citizen and is necessary for modifiable their behavior, controlling crime and protecting the citizens. The objective of the study is to identify major factors which influence police image in the public. The study was conducted among 250 citizen of district Kasur using a five-point Likert scale structured questionnaire. The researcher used multistage simple random sampling. The respondents of the study were advocate, doctor, labour, student and businessman. Results revealed that corruption, favoritism, political interference, bad behavior of police personnel, lack of accountability and misuse of power by police department are influence public image and they considered that police department only took action when FIR was registered by economically or politically strong people of the city. Study found that police department doesn’t have any monitoring system and people can get job after giving bribe. Study concluded that there was a small number of respondents who had to pay bribe to police department for their illegal activities but majority considered that police was a major corrupt department. They study suggested that police department should be hold a meeting with public to reduce their misperception and when police went to investigation any place, it should be humble and respected. Police should took under accountability and improve recruitment system with high merit so that Pakistan can compete with international level of policing. Study also suggested that police should take action on FIR without any social status and should be write FIR without any lame excuses and bribe.