Ensure adequate resources for police

It is deeply troubling that the police force has become so under-resourced that it is getting increasingly reliant on private donations. An investigation by this paper has revealed that it is still a common practice for police stations to establish special funds to cover expenses, bridging the gap between official allocations and the actual costs of investigating crimes or even providing meals to suspects in custody. At a recent roundtable organised by this paper, a member of the Police Reform Commission also drew attention to the issue of resource shortages. He said, "At the thana level, if a police officer finds a dead body, they must cover transport costs themselves and are reimbursed a year later."

Reportedly, officers entrusted with investigating grave crimes—including murder or the recovery of an unidentified body—are often provided with as little as one-fifth of the necessary expenses. As a result, a practice has taken root of collecting money as "donations" from influential individuals, which risks compromising the force's integrity; one can imagine the outcome of an investigation if it involves one of those donors. Equally troubling is the practice of soliciting money to process or fast-track bail bonds to top up police stations' special funds, a method bordering on extortion in uniform. The authorities must review and prohibit such practices, ensuring that law enforcement operations are funded exclusively through legitimate public resources.

One may recall that infamous remark of the then AL state minister for information at the height of the 2024 July uprising that their stock of rubber bullets would not run out even if police continued firing at protesters non-stop for five years. This statement laid bare the misplaced budgetary priorities of the past, with more funds allocated to weaponry while ignoring investigative capacity and maintenance of police stations at an acceptable and decent standard. Our report also highlights that reimbursements for expenses incurred by officers to meet urgent investigative needs can take nearly a year. This absurd bureaucratic practice must be replaced, and necessary budgets must be made instantly available to duty bearers.

When the interim government announced its commitment to reform key state institutions, police reform was rightly listed as a priority. Yet, there has been little meaningful follow-up on the commission's report or its recommendations. While some civil society representatives have expressed reservations about certain proposals—such as the modalities of creating a permanent independent police commission as a watchdog—there should be no hesitation in adopting its recommendations to increase operational resources.

Providing financial independence to police superintendents for essential investigative expenses is not a luxury but a necessity. The government must ensure that the police have adequate, transparent, and accountable funding so that pursuing justice is not compromised by resource constraints or dependence on private generosity.