Beat Policing and its Efficacy in Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)

It has been almost a decade since the beat policing program was launched in Dhaka. It is a unique way for the police to reach citizen before their call. At the beginning of 2011, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) launched beat policing in the capital to extend their service to civilians, reaching out to them closer and ensuring the accountability of police. The study’s primary objectives were to unearth causes thwarting its efficacy and suggest necessary remedies. This study was based on a quantitative and partially qualitative method; a non-probability purposive sampling was used to conduct the studies in four different police stations (8% PS) covered purposively. DMP employed beat policing to create a cordial and cooperative relationship between police and general people, ensure a safe environment for children and women, extend services to the poor and underprivileged, take preventive actions against crime, and collect information about various crimes around the city. The main findings of the study are as follows: (a) City dwellers have no clear idea about beat policing, but 55% of responders know at least their beat number, but the significant finding is that 63% of citizens said that the law and order situation has more improved after introducing the beat policing program; (b) public expectations of the beat officer are slightly adverse; (c) most of the service users recommended to increase publicity about beat policing; (d) half of the citizens reported the conduct of beat police as very friendly; (e) 93% responders said that they have never needed any payoffs to a beat policeman; (f) 93% beat police personnel claim that they regularly performed their duty. A few respondents said that their inconvenience was due to lack of workforce, logistics, job stress, and overload duty. They hope that police authority should make an additional allowance for their beat policing program.