Factors that Influence Police Personnel’s Behavior in Professional Work

Shahjahan M

Published on: 2024-07-08

Abstract

Police job is fundamentally crucial to the well-being of any nation, management of civil rights and deployment of law appropriately. Bangladesh Police devotes a round the clock service to public order, peace and security. It works relentlessly to secure life and property of the people. Bangladesh Police has made exemplary contribution, numerous times. On the other hand, here in Bangladesh too, like other countries, police are sometimes accused of unwanted activities time to time. Such both positive and negative actions shape the credibility, acceptability and most importantly trustworthiness of police among mass people. Considering the significance of this force’s roles towards nation, it demands immediate attention to identify the influencing factors and thus, to rationalize police behaviour at professional work. A survey utilizing semi-structured questionnaire conducted on 846 police personnel rank of constables to inspectors from the Barisal and Rangpur division. It has also conducted 8 focus group discussion (FGD), 6 key informant interviews (KII), and 5 case studies to achieve the object of the study. The study identified certain influential factors linked with police professionalism. Major factors influencing unprofessional behaviour included long working hour, insufficiency of service benefits other than salary, acceptance of pressure for unprofessional work at crime scene, being engaged in personal works as assigned by higher ranked officer, more powerful service seeker, tiring professional work etc. The study also suggested some measures for implementation to ensure professional behaviour as well as preventing unprofessional behaviour at work.