Should we privatize our police?

[Edevelop]

We all know that Police in Pakistan is corrupt. If they were well trained then maybe half of terrorism wouldn't exist. Its sounds a but weird but the highway police that we have, the one that is privatized is quite good.

Here are some countries that are following this kind of system:

Examples

United States

In South Carolina, all Security Officers have the same authority and power to make an arrest as Sheriff's Deputies.[8] Spring Valley HOA in Columbia, SC is a good example of this. Private Officers respond to calls for service, make arrests and use blue lights[9] and traffic radar. They are Law Enforcement under state law, case law and AG’s opinion, and are authorized by the state to issue Uniform Traffic Tickets to violators.[10] Security Officers in some cases are also considered Police Officers.
In Boston, Massachusetts, more than 100 housing projects and low-income apartment buildings are patrolled by private security. One firm, Naratoone Security Corporation, fields 122 traditional security officers in those locations, as well as 43 “special police officers,” who are armed and licensed by the Boston Police Department and have limited arrest powers.

South Africa
Main article: Private security industry in South Africa
An increasing number of South Africans are using private security companies to protect themselves and their assets. The broad private security industry is employing over 200,000 security guards throughout the country, of which the guarding industry is the largest, with 125,000 guards working for approximately 3,200 security companies. Many of the larger South African private security companies have expanded their operations into other countries in Southern Africa. Private security companies have even involved themselves in political conflicts that are occurring on the subcontinent. In South Africa, private companies that make use of guards are regulated by a statutory body, the Security Officers' Board. The Board polices the regulations that govern the private security industry and sets minimum training standards for security guards.[13]

Pakistan (Motorway Police):

 

[A1Kaid]

No, Police should not be privatized. You gave examples of private security guard firms that not the same as police. In US we don't have privatized police, police are government employees. Police should be controlled by their province.


Also privatized police may come into conflict with regular state acting law enforcement. Privatized police also wouldn't have power to arrest unless state has permitted.


AFAIK in UK the police is federalized, now I don't necessarily support that consider it gives police and government invasive powers.

 

[Edevelop]

No, Police should not be privatized. You gave examples of private security guard firms that not the same as police. In US we don't have privatized police, police are government employees. Police should be controlled by their province.


Also privatized police may come into conflict with regular state acting law enforcement. Privatized police also wouldn't have power to arrest unless state has permitted.


AFAIK in UK the police is federalized, now I don't necessarily support that consider it gives police and government invasive powers.

Well in South Carolina, security officers have the same authority and power to make arrest as Sheriff's deputies...

 

[livingdead]

No, Police should not be privatized. You gave examples of private security guard firms that not the same as police. In US we don't have privatized police, police are government employees. Police should be controlled by their province.


Also privatized police may come into conflict with regular state acting law enforcement. Privatized police also wouldn't have power to arrest unless state has permitted.


AFAIK in UK the police is federalized, now I don't necessarily support that consider it gives police and government invasive powers.

what does that mean?

 

[Thəorətic Muslim]

Well in South Carolina, security officers have the same authority and power to make arrest as Sheriff's deputies...

LOL..... Isnt the Police force already "Privatized"? Ever looked at Karachi? What about the "Elite Police" Force protecting the beloved Sharif saabs?

Serious note. The Security Officers in question are NOT just some random Security Guard who spends his time walking around a building. The Security Officers are for example:
The Metro Police, who maintain security at metro stations.
The Park Rangers who do the same at State Parks.

 

[BATMAN]

Simple answer YES!

Police would be automatically privatized when we get rid of Provincial assemblies.

No chief minister and no private security!!!!

Every district govt. will have its own police, salaries decided by the district govt. according to needs, taxes would be paid localy and spent locally, more people living in district mean more tax and their will be competion among districts to attract residents, people would have a choice to choose the best district.

District govt. is a chain reaction to marvel.

 

[Edevelop]

LOL..... Isnt the Police force already "Privatized"? Ever looked at Karachi? What about the "Elite Police" Force protecting the beloved Sharif saabs?

Serious note. The Security Officers in question are NOT just some random Security Guard who spends his time walking around a building. The Security Officers are for example:
The Metro Police, who maintain security at metro stations.
The Park Rangers who do the same at State Parks.

Those rangers are Paramilitary forces of Pakistan, and consists of members of the Pakistan Army under the direct control of the Ministry of the Interior of the Pakistan Government.

The Elite police is part of 'Punjab Police' (provincial)
From Wiki: " The Elite Force was created on the order of the then Punjab Chief Minister Shabaz Sarhif in 1997–1998"

 

[Thəorətic Muslim]

^ You want BlackWater? People who think they are above the law? There is no example or blueprint for a full "Private Police Force". I cant believe this is a question.

Instead of trying to fix something, you want to take everything down and put a new mechanism in place? Do You think that these types of things can appear out of thin air? That you can make a "Private Police Force" the next day? The Logistics would just come together?

Lahore can not connect some buses together to make a Public Transportation system, so they are calling in the IETT from Istanbul. And you want to add another problem to the already existing?

Just what Pakistan needs? More angry men and some women with weapons.

I like your expenditure plan. It is kind of what is based in America. Except that the Local govt in America collects taxes from real estate, utilites, etc. The State from "Sales Tax". And Federal govt from Tariffs, Income Taxes, etc. You spend what you can collect. The Federal Govt also helps the states with their education budget, sometimes matching what the states pay, transportation, health care etc.

 

[Edevelop]

I'm not an expert in these things nor know how the system will work. However, i have found some positive points that says on wiki:

Perceived advantages

One of the alleged benefits of such arrangements is the potential for competition. If government contracts out to a private police company, then different contractors may compete to offer the highest quality and/or lowest price.
If individual firms and households can choose their own police company, then competition may have even greater benefits for the citizens, as contractors seek to serve various niche markets. Under that system, individual citizens, firms, homeowners associations, etc. can choose a service that they perceive as providing the right quality/price mix for them, and concentrating on the security needs that are more important to them.
There is evidence that private police can provide services more cheaply than public police. The cost of San Francisco's private patrol specials is $25–30/hour, compared to $58/hour for an off-duty police officer.[14] In Reminderville, Corporate Security outbid the Summit County Sheriff Department's offer to charge the community $180,000 per year for 45-minute response time emergency response service by offering a $90,000 contract for twice as many patrol cars and a 6-minute response time.[15]
This system might also better prevent poor service and other abuses, as citizens could unilaterally fire their police company, rather than having to lobby the government to do so, an effort that many would be relatively disinclined to pursue, due to the uncertainty as to whether it would be successful, and the time consumed.
Homeowners associations and landlords would have a stronger incentive to monitor the activity of private police they hire for their neighborhood, as nearby neighborhoods with better or cheaper police services could gain a competitive advantage in attracting residents and remaining profitable. Reputation could be an additional safeguard, as companies that gain a poor reputation would likely have more difficulty attracting new customers.
The ability of people to sue private police could be another safeguard. Companies would have an incentive to carefully screen applicants and fire abusive employees, in order to avoid costly lawsuits that could cause their liability insurance premiums to rise.
Public police, by contrast, are covered by sovereign immunity in many situations; and in any case, the public police lack an owner whose potential to suffer financially from lawsuits would provide a strong incentive to take action. Theoretically, the citizens as a whole might be considered the "owner" of government; but the difference is that these owners lack a means of selling their investment if their fellow owners refuse to cooperate in taking action to avoid losses; and there is less potential for hostile takeover or bankruptcy to affect a change in control, as the government can simply raise taxes (or print money, in some cases) to compensate for financial losses.
There are the usual public choice issues involved that can thwart public sector reform, such as the fact that citizens realize their individual votes have little chance of affecting the outcome. As Bruce L. Benson notes, "Many people are very concerned about what the government is doing for (or to) them, but they rationally choose not to invest in information about candidates or to vote because they recognize that the costs of doing so exceed the benefits."
Another advantage cited by Benson is that private police would have a contractual responsibility to protect their customers.[16] In Warren v. District of Columbia, the court found that public police have no such responsibility.[17] Thus, they cannot be sued if they fail to respond to calls for help, for instance.
James F. Pastor addresses such disadvantages by analyzing a number of substantive legal and public policy issues which directly or indirectly relate to the provision of security services. These can be demonstrated by the logic of alternative or supplemental service providers. This is illustrated by the concept of "para-police." Para-police is another name for private police officers. Many public safety agencies use auxiliary police officers, who are part-time sworn police officers. Some also use reserve police officers, who are hired on an "as needed" basis, with limited police powers. These officers are typically called to duty for special details or events. In contrast to auxiliary and reserve officers, private policing is a relatively new and growing phenomenon.
There are several key distinctions between these options. Briefly, the distinctions relate to the level of police powers associated with the officer, the training levels required for each officer, the funding sources for the service provision, and the contractual and liability exposures related to each supplemental arrangement. Each alternative or supplemental service has its own strengths and weaknesses. The use of private police, however, has particular appeal because property or business owners can directly contract for public safety services, thereby providing welcome relief for municipal budgets. Finally, private police functions can be flexible, depending upon the financial, organizational, political, and situational circumstances of the client.[18]

I really hope Pakistan can get rid of Provincial system. No one gets the opportunity to compete for his of her own state. We should look to create districts. That way, the police system can be run privately. If the federal or provincial government is into this then we will see failure. Some will blame others to fight, and some will just chill and become corrupt through lobbying.
The sad part was when the lawyer movement happened in Pakistan. A huge lot of Lahore Police officers had to get to Islamabad. There is absolutely no system of control.

 

[alibaz]

State guarantee protection of basic rights and security of it's people. Improvements in police system under the state mechanism is need of the hour

 

[BATMAN]

State shall limit its job to defence, foreign affairs and supreme court only, rest of the all administration shall be left to people it self.

Public is already taking care of themselves and feeding various govt. organisations meant to serve the public and do development.

 

[alibaz]

Those rangers are Paramilitary forces of Pakistan, and consists of members of the Pakistan Army under the direct control of the Ministry of the Interior of the Pakistan Government.

Rangers is not police, it is ment for maning of borders during peace time. Rangers have their own troops and officers. However few officers do come from army.

 

[Edevelop]

If Privatization doesn't work then there is another method to get provincial police on track.
That is by creating small courts. One of my relative was telling me that there is a small court in Lahore and the judge seriously doesn't even have a chair to sit on. When we can make our courts strong, then naturally the law enforcement should follow. The base needs to be formed!

Thank god we have our supreme court coming out well. No one expected in the history of Pakistan to open cases for all kinds of people. From ISI, Prime Minister, President, to local citizens involved in terrorism. This is a great step forward. But unfortunately this will not last long. The current supreme court will have to step down by the end of this year. When PPP is still in power, they will come up with a puppet.

IMO, the Supreme court of Pakistan should work day and night to get things right on more faster pace. They are the only hope to bring law and order to every single door step.

 

[alibaz]

State shall limit its job to defence, foreign affairs and supreme court only, rest of the all administration shall be left to people it self.

Public is already taking care of themselves and feeding various govt. organisations meant to serve the public and do development.

That's why we find latest arms with people and they are killing people on roads and streets. Those who need to be protected are being killed like insects.

 

[Hyde]

I think giving full autonomy to police is not Privatizing right?

I am in favour of autonomous Police department that works independently and not controlled by the politicians or ministers. No politician should have any right to interfere in Police department. Empowering police department will help improve the Law and order situation in my opinion. At the moment half of the police department is either busy in protocol duties or in preparation of welcoming one minister or another. Police should work like an institution and must take independent decisions like the Army. It should have it's own promotional system and not controlled by the CM or anybody else. It should receive the budget from the federal/provincial assemblies and must be fully independent in it's investigation.

Privatizing as a commercial product would be funny option