According to a recent survey by Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy, almost half of Delhiites polled in 2014 were “satisfied” with the police.
Just over 48 per cent of 2,800 respondents were either satisfied, or very satisfied or extremely satisfied with the Delhi Police. About 19 per cent were dissatisfied and about 31 per cent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied.
Meanwhile, the perception about police wasn’t all positive.
Over 58 per cent said it was either always or necessary to have connections to get the police to do a particular job. But, police officials said 80 per cent of all cases were registered by members of the lower strata of society, where “connections” didn’t matter.
Cops may complain of long hours with little pay, but they didn’t get any sympathy from Delhiites polled. Fifty-two per cent said the police were paid enough to able to do their job.
Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Deepak Mishra said: “We have put emphasis on registration of cases. Now, digital FIRs are being sent straight to the complainants’ phones. Despite all that, we still have miles to go.”
The average Delhiites’ satisfaction with the police is a far cry from similar figures for the Chennai and Mumbai Police forces with whom over 86 per cent and 71 per cent respondents, respectively, said they were satisfied.
