Law enforcers must disclose identity during raids: Police Reform Commission 

The Police Reform Commission (PRC) has recommended law enforcement agencies disclose their identity while conducting raids.

According to a PRC survey, 87% of respondents opined introducing 'emergency call service' to get ensured about the identity of the members of law enforcement agencies going for any drive, arrest or search without any court warrant.

Law enforcement agencies may conduct any drive anywhere to arrest a criminal, an accused person or any contraband items. If they decline to give their identity, there should be a provision of 'emergency call service' to get confirmed about their identity, they said.

After the survey on "What kind of police do we want", the PRC recommended incorporating public opinion in police law.  

The PRC said, "Nowadays, it has been seen that members of the law enforcement agencies are conducting searches in houses at night with and without uniform.

"Sometimes even they carry no search warrant or formal detention order, which is one of the causes of enforced disappearances."

Out of the total 24,442 respondents to a question about coming to a solution from such practices, around 77.4% of them suggested using GSP tracking systems and video recording devices by enforcers while conducting searches.

Around 75% of respondents called for the presence of magistrate or local government representatives and eminent personalities during house searches at night.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dr Baharul Alam welcomed the PRC public survey, saying that execution of the proposals will make the police more accountable and people-friendly.

The country needs a law-abiding police force free from corruption and political influence to maintain law and order equally for every citizen irrespective of their identity, according to the respondents.

Some 89.5% people called for stopping the use of police force for political purposes and 77.9% people want police not to indulge in corruption by misusing power, according to the survey.

Apart from these, 74.9% opined bringing police under accountability for violations of human rights that include enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings.

The survey is now available on the website of the PRC, said a press release of the home ministry.

A section of the people came up with diversified suggestions in response to the queries of the commission for a modern police force, the release said.