Images of policemen’s funerals and of injured personnel of the force have become all too common. Owing to high levels of violence in society policing has emerged as perhaps the most hazardous profession. To address the situation structural police reforms are needed.

The killing of some 100 policemen in Karachi in the last 200 days is an eye-opener and indicator of growing violence against police. Last year, Karachi lost 166 policemen. In Pakistan, Peshawar, Karachi and Quetta have registered a rising trend of police casualties.

Since 1970 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1,379 policemen sacrificed their lives. From 1970 to 1980, KP lost 44 personnel, 78 from 1981-1990, while from 1991-2000 the province lost 139 policemen. Since 9/11, in KP 1,118 policemen have been killed. With 201 killings of policemen in 2009, the KP police recorded its highest ever losses in a year.

Since 1970, Peshawar police has lost 378 policemen. On the other hand, since 1979 the Balochistan police has lost 616 policemen, including 239 from Quetta.

The loss of senior officers affects police morale

Escalating violence against police personnel is not just limited to big cities; the phenomenon also persists in districts bordering Fata.

As the majority of cases of police killings are registered against unknown accused, without the cooperation of the community and proper evidence it’s difficult to trace the killers.

According to the Indian National Crime Records Bureau, during 2011, in 25 states 867 policemen were killed. Out of those killed, 616 were constables and head constables and only three were gazetted officers. The highest number of deaths occurred in Chhattisgarh. In India, as compared to the casualties of 2010, in 2011 a decrease of 2.7pc was witnessed.

Globally, Afghanistan endures one of the highest police casualty rates. According to the Brookings Institution, during 2007 to 2010, 3,290 Afghan policemen were killed. During the last three years, casualties have surged.

In South Africa, on an average 100 police officers are killed annually. But critics say if the police want to reduce their losses, the force should operate within the legal mandate as reportedly, 566 South Africans were killed in police operations in 2010.

In the US, leading police officials have termed increased violence against the force as a ‘war on cops’. However, critics have termed it an excuse to use excessive force against citizens.

Owing to increased violence globally, police forces have added more firepower and equipment that is used by militaries. Consequently, the police are losing the battle to portray a friendly public image.

To directly hit the morale of the police, training centres in Pakistan have also been attacked. Attacks on Manawan (Lahore), Hangu and Quetta training colleges are a few incidents. In Afghanistan, in 2007 the head of the police training school in Qandahar was killed. In that country even the families of policemen have been targeted by insurgents.

The major question pertains to the welfare of the families of policemen slain in the line of duty. Ninety per cent of policemen killed in action from KP police were in their thirties; on an average each left behind two children less than 10 years besides young widows and aged parents.

Despite financial constraints the KP government has increased compensation for families of slain police personnel from Rs500,000 to Rs30,00,000. From 2008 to 2014, the KP police paid Rs1,649.5 million to their families. During the last four years Rs387.7m was released for the purchase of plots and Rs36.54m for the education of the children of slain policemen.

In India, to pay homage to those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, different police services commemorate special days at the state level. The postal department also issues a police martyrs’ special stamp.

In Pakistan all police services should plan the commemoration of ‘Police Shuhada Day’. It will help motivate the force and honour those who have fallen. To remember slain police personnel, a national police martyrs’ monument has been established in police lines, Islamabad. Such memorials also exist in the police lines of Quetta and Peshawar. Since all such memorials are located in restricted areas and thus cannot be accessed easily by ordinary people, a national police memorial needs to be established at a public place.

Training in accordance with prevailing challenges is essential. In the majority of cases policemen were victims of either gunfire or improvised explosive devices. After recruitment, training needs special attention. To update training modules it is imperative to carry out needs’ assessments. Self-protection, physical fitness, use of firearms and orientation regarding explosives must be included in the training curriculum.

The loss of senior officers badly affects the morale of police, hence protection protocols regarding their personal security also need review.

In civilised societies, the death of a single policeman is interpreted as a challenge to the state and blow to the society. Therefore, we should not forget those who have protected us with their blood.

The writer is a police officer.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2014