Every person is bound
to assist a Magistrate or a police officer reasonably
demanding his aid in taking or preventing escape of any
person who could be lawfully arrested; in preventing or
controlling breach of peace; and to prevent damage to
public property. (Sec. 37 CrPC).
Any person aware of the
commission of certain serious offences or intention thereof,
is duty bound to give information to the nearest Magistrate
or police officer of such commission or intention (Sec.
39 CrPC). These IPC crimes include offences: against the
State; against public tranquillity; relating to illegal
gratification; affecting life; and of robbery and dacoity.
Please take initiative
to check the crime. A private citizen can arrest or cause
a person to be arrested if any non-bailable and cognizable
offence is committed in his presence or a proclaimed offender
comes across them. (Sec. 43 CrPC).
Allow free ingress to
a place if a police officer having authority to arrest/search
or any person acting under a warrant of arrest/search,
has reasons to believe that the person to be arrested
has entered into or is within such a place. (Sections
47 & 100 CrPC).
Assist a police officer
if your assistance is sought by him to join a search.
Refusal to do so when asked in writing, without reasonable
cause, is an offence under section 187 IPC. (Sec. 100
CrPC).
Give correct evidence
whenever associated in any investigation or trial. Do
not give false information to the police to avoid wastage
of police resources and to avoid penal action for making
false or malicious or prank calls.
Co-operate with the police
in action against anti social elements and in maintaining
law and order.
Protect public property
and do not indulge in acts, which damage or deface public
property or places.
All road users must be
guided by the objective of enhancing road safety and must
pay heed to the legitimate directions and suggestions
of traffic police personnel and observe traffic norms
and regulations.
Help injured persons in
road accidents by taking them to nearby hospitals and
by informing the police. If desired, one would not be
asked to be a witness in the case or otherwise put to
any inconvenience.
The driver of the motor
vehicle responsible for a road accident is duty bound
to take all reasonable steps to secure medical attention
for the injured person by conveying him to the nearest
medical practioner or hospital unless it is not practicable
to do so on account of mob fury or any other reason beyond
his control. Failure in this regard punishable. (Section
134 Motor Vehicle Act, 1988).
It is a duty of every
registered medical practioner or the doctor on duty in
a hospital to immediately attend to the injured person
and render medical aid without waiting for procedural
formalities unless the injured person or his guardian
(in case of a minor) desires otherwise (Section 134 Motor
Vehicle Act 1988). Failure in this regard is punishable.
(Section 134 Motor Vehicles Act, 1988).
Community Policing initiatives
must be given whole-hearted support. Security environment,
particularly to curb crimes like thefts and burglaries,
can be greatly enhanced if the local community takes initiative
to improve physical security arrangement of the neighbourhood
and individual houses/establishments and deploys adequate
number of watchmen.
Be truthful and forthright
while going to police for redressal of complaints. Avoid
the unholy practice of exaggerating or maneuvering facts
to attract operation of criminal laws or to enhance their
severity. This is particularly unfortunate when such complaints
are pushed through devious recommendations or monetary
inducements. Such short sighted actions strike at the
root of the rule of law and are among the factors responsible
for many of the ills, like malicious investigations and
burking, affecting policing. Chandigarh Police would like
to reassure that a sincere account of a complainant’s
version, though may not be covered by criminal laws, would
be given due consideration. All efforts would be made
to resolve the same under the alternate complaint resolution
mechanism as many such disputes lead to future crimes
or breach of peace.
Cherish our Constitutional
values. All citizens in our democratic polity have equal
stake in the rule of law.
Do not ask or expect police
to resort to unlawful or questionable means while dealing
with crime or criminals or public disorder. Any such action
abetted or acquiesced, in self-interest for quick results,
is unsustainable. Your option should be against bypassing
the rule of law
Our constitutional and
legal processes have the capacity to evolve strategies
to deal with the emerging threats. And you must be vigilant
to prevent hijacking of the agenda in this regard by any
vested interests, who generally are vociferous and often
claim to reflect public opinion.
