The police are faced with new challenges in a democratising India that is beset with corruption, and has a predominantly parochial social structure, an unequal distribution of national wealth and prevailing poverty. Policing urban areas is also becoming difficult in view of increases in the poor, the unemployed, organised crime, pressure on infrastructure and basic amenities, illegal settlements and ruralisation of the urban territories. There has been a growing perception of the decaying policing system in terms of credibility, popular image, corruption and attitudinal dimensions of policing in India (see Indian National Police Commission Report, vol. II, Delhi: Government of India, 1979).