With a view to cleansing the public image, the Nepal Police’s announcement to implement the concept of metropolitan police system in Kathmandu shortly has given some solace to the locals. An 11-point policy has already been unveiled towards this end. The proposed Police Commissioner’s Office plans to bring semi-judicial powers of the District Administration Office to the police office. Nepal Police is also planning to give more teeth to the Crime Investigation Department of police headquarters, Regional Police Offices, and Zonal Police Offices to prosecute those guilty of complicated and serious crimes at courts, which is until now an exclusive preserve of the District Police Offices. Nepal Police wants to establish a Police Service Commission at par with Public Service Commission to select meritorious candidates and make the force more professional.

In this transitional phase, the Valley has witnessed a deteriorating law and order situation with rise in the number of crimes. Unfortunately, the security personnel’s involvement in abuse of authority and misuse of state weaponry has come to light in several cases. All this, obviously, has contributed to the rise in sense of insecurity among the Kathmanduites. The new government must consider the aforesaid suggestions very seriously if it wishes to make the police force effective and efficient. But more importantly, the guilty must always be brought to book and those serving the department must realise that they are not above the law. Drastic changes are hence required to restore the people’s trust in the police force.