CITIZEN'S CHARTER

Home Department

TAMIL NADU POLICE

( http://www.tn.gov.in/police )

THE MISSION STATEMENT :   to work towards a safe, just, humane and progressive society

The Citizens’ Charter:

In pursuit of the  mission, the police individually and as an organisation will work towards creating a society which is:

SAFE 

• enhance public tranquility through a proactive approach to reduction of  disorder;

• encourage a problem solving partnership with the people by adopting the strategies of community policing;

• reduce crime and the fear of crime through the  widening of partnerships;

• facilitate the peaceful resolution of conflicts;

• facilitate safe and smooth road use by citizens;

JUST

• avoid any element of gender bias and work for gender equity;  to be sensitive to the problem of crimes against women and take effective action to render justice;

• respect the right to redressal of the citizens-this would imply  that complaints would be registered on receipt, that a complaint would not be refused on grounds of jurisdiction, copies of FIR would be given under acknowledgement,  and action taken there on intimated within a reasonable  time;

·        so improve the responsiveness and receptiveness of the police that individual citizens regardless of status  can approach the police without fear or apprehension;

• educate the public of  both their rights and obligations vis-a- vis the police and under the law;

• manifest firmness accompanied by fairness in the performance of duties such as arrest, seizure and other procedures of  enforcement;

• be sensitive to the needs and problems of socially disadvantaged sections of society;

• strike a balance between respect for the civic rights of the aggrieved and the human rights of  accused and suspected persons;

HUMANE

• provide every citizen in the state with an appropriate level and quality of service which meets the needs of the individual and gains the trust and support of society at large;

• be as transparent as possible in day to day dealing with the public without compromising on areas where secrecy and confidentiality are to be maintained;

• adopt a people friendly policing style such that police will act as Friends of People and people will become Friends of Police;

• render assistance in whatever manner possible or necessary to victims of crime;

• continually cultivate a corporate image of helpfulness and service particularly when dealing with the very young, the aged, women, and differently enabled (disabled);

• enable restitution and compensation to victims of crime;

• rush medical assistance to persons injured in traffic mishaps or any other type of disaster or traumatic situation;   

PROGRESSIVE

• actively consult the public in all possible areas  and functions of policing and allow citizens to make inputs in the policing process, recognizing that the sole cornerstone of effective policing is public cooperation;

• adhere to a code of professional ethics and personal integrity;

• cope with change by constantly  evaluating attitudes of  personnel, and upgrading skills and knowledge through sensitisation programmes and  state of the art training at all levels;

• encourage innovations and cost effective initiatives that will better deliver the range of police services to the people.

Rights and duties of citizens

It is the duty of a citizen to obey the law, to keep the peace and to assist the police. By helping the police the citizens help to preserve the rights and freedom of other members of  society.  The responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests on the citizens.  The police  perform the function of law enforcement on a full time basis on behalf of society.  Citizens are expected to perform this role on a part time basis. In performing this role it is the duty of citizens to give relevant crime related information to the police and to assist the police in preventing breach of peace.  Citizens will not shelter or harbour any proclaimed offender. Citizens have the duty to render evidence in  a court of law.

Specific rights of women

Women witnesses will only be examined at their residence.  In the case of women accused they will be questioned only in the presence of women police.

Specific rights of  children

Children accused of any offence will be dealt with according to the provisions of  the Juvenile Justice Act. They will not be held in custody along with adult offenders, and in the event of being convicted for an offence for the first time will be released on probation

Rights of  Citizens on arrest by the police

Individual citizens in the event of arrest by the police have the right -

• to be informed of the ground of arrest,

• to inform a relative or friend,

• to have  a lawyer of his/her choice present,

• to know the identity of the police personnel effecting the arrest,

• to be examined by a medical practitioner.

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