More police do not ensure more security

LAHORE: Conventional wisdom says that more the cops, the safer a place is; but a serious research conducted by the Jang Group and Geo News Network reveals that there are no hard and fast rules for this theory if one closely examines and analyses the country-wise share in the international murder count of 437,000 during 2012 with the number of policemen deputed by these nations to ensure the safety of the lives of their citizens.
By region, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has estimated in 2012-13 that North and South America had an alarming homicide rate of 16.3 per 100,000 population (total murder count: 157,000), Africa had touched the 12.5 mark (total count: 135,000), Europe had a homicide rate of just 3 per 100,000 population (total count: 22,000) and Asia had a homicide rate of only 2.9 per 100,000 population (total count: 122,000).
Now, the Americas also include the United States of America, which has a police force of 708,569 or some 233 cops deputed to guard every pocket of 100,000 Americans against crime.
The US had a homicide rate of 4.7 per 100,000 population and a total murder count of 14,827 in 2012, which proves that only the under-developed or poor countries do not necessarily have high incidence of violence.
The United States’ homicide statistics cited above also shed light on the fact that high educational/awareness levels and adequate financial, technological or human resources are not the only pre-requisites to reduce crime in any given society.
This research, which involves a peek into the fairly recent studies conducted by the Vienna-based United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Helsinki-based European Institute of Crime Prevention and Control and the Luxembourg-based Eurostat, the Directorate-General of the European Commission, shows that while many countries of the world have failed in controlling violent crime despite having deputed a large number of trained/equipped cops for the purpose, there are some blessed or lucky nations that do not possess large police forces, and yet their crime graphs are not very high.
For example, despite having deployed 1,500 policemen for every 100,000 people by May 2011, restive Egypt had recorded 2,703 murders that year and its intentional homicide rate per 100,000 inhabitants had rested at 3.4, which was far lower than the global average homicide rate of 6.2 per 100,000 population—-but not good enough if one looks at the number of cops/resources stationed to check and curb violent crime.
This is what the New York-based “Business Insider,” an American business and technology news website had stated about Egypt in one of its May 2011 reports: “When the police force grows to 1.24 million people, who have access to all forms of technology, the result is excessive force that created a great illusion for the former regime (Hosni Mubarak’s government) about its true influence on the ground.”
Eurostat, the Directorate-General of the European Commission, has also estimated that the total strength of Egyptian police force stands at 1.24 million, asserting that 1,493 cops were assigned the task to look after the lives and properties of every pocket of the country’s 100,000 inhabitants.
In 2013, Russia was leading the world in most police per 100,000 persons, according to a study of the United Nations and the British Office for National Statistics (ONS), UK’s largest independent producer of official statistics.According to this study, Russia had posted over 550 cops per 100,000 persons in 2013, yet it had a homicide rate of 9.2 per 100,000 population and a total murder count of 13,120.
Eurostat differs with this study a bit. It estimates that the current strength of Russian police force is 1,383,968 (1.383 million) or 976 cops per 100,000 people.Similarly, Turkey had deputed some 470 cops per 100,000 persons in 2013.
The country had a homicide rate of 2.6 per 100,000 population and a total murder count of 1,866. Eurostat says the Turkish police force comprises of 341,770 personnel, which means 484 cops per one hundred thousand citizens.
This number had rested at about 465 in case of Italy, which has a homicide rate of just 0.9 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 530. Eurostat says the Italian police force had 324,339 people registered on its salary rolls or 552 cops per every 100,000 people.
This number was around 455 in case of Portugal (having a homicide rate of just 1.2 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 122). Eurostat estimates that the Portuguese police force had 51,584 personnel at its disposal or 485 per one hundred thousand people.
This number had rested at 450 for Hong Kong, having a homicide rate of only 0.4 per 100,000 population and total murder count of just 27. However, the English language “Channel NewsAsia” of Singapore puts this figure at 393 per 100,000 for Hong Kong.
According to the United Nations and the British Office for National Statistics studies, the number of cops per 100,000 persons had stood at 447 for Kazakhstan, which has a homicide rate of 7.8 per 100,000 population and total murder count of just 1,263, it was 425 for Algeria (having a homicide rate of just 0.7 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 280) and it was 397 for Bulgaria (having a homicide rate of 1.9 per 100,000 population and total murder count of just 141).
However, Eurostat says Bulgaria had a police force comprising 33,800 personnel, which meant that there were 442 cops per 100,000 inhabitants of the country.
The number of policemen per 100,000 inhabitants was approximately 390 for Slovenia (having a homicide rate of just 0.7 per 100,000 population and total murder count of only 14) and Czech Republic (having a homicide rate of only one per 100,000 population and total murder count of 105).
However, Eurostat says the number of policemen per 100,000 in Czech Republic was 405—not very different from the United Nations estimate of 390 though. The Eurostat says Czech Republic had a police force of 42,117.
The number of police force per one hundred thousand citizens had stood at 380 for Spain (having a homicide rate of just 0.8 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 364).
Eurostat estimates that Spain had a police force of 224,086 or 494 per 100,000 citizens. This number per one hundred thousand people was 379 for Ukraine (having a homicide rate of 4.3 per 100,000 population and total murder count of just 1,988) and it was 375 for Mexico (having a homicide rate of 21.5 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 26,037).
Eurostat contends that in Mexico, the strength of police force was 393,048, which meant that there were 366 cops per one hundred thousand people.
It was 370 for Israel (having a homicide rate of just 1.8 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 134 only), the figure had rested at 368 for Belgium (having a homicide rate of 1.6 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 182), it was 360 for Bolivia (having a homicide rate of 12.1 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 1270), it was 358 for Greece (having a homicide rate of 1.7 per 100,000 population and total murder count of just 184).
Eurostat says Greece has a police force of 50,798 or 452 cops per 100,000 people.
The number was 340 for Colombia (having a very high homicide rate of 30.8 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 14,670) and 335 for Serbia (having a homicide rate of just 1.2 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 111 only).
In the case of Pakistan, which was spending Rs223 billion on law enforcement by mid-November 2013, there was just one policeman available to ensure the safety of every pocket of 384 citizens, which is more than the global average of one policeman for every 300 humans.
According to figures published by a number of national daily newspapers, which had quoted as sources the National Police Bureau, Provincial Police headquarters, former Inspectors General of Police, National Counter Terrorism Authority and Interior Ministry etc, the country’s estimated total strength of police force had rested at 466,585 by November 2013.
This strength included 180,131 policemen in Punjab, 80,000 in Sindh, 60,750 in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and 28,094 in Balochistan. The strength of Federal forces had stood at 109,465.
In July 2014, as archives reveal, the Sindh police had raised demand for an increase in its current force for Karachi, asserting the number of cops deputed in this city was far less than in Lahore, which otherwise was smaller than the port city in terms of area and population both.
While Lahore has a relatively better ratio of one policeman for 337 people, Karachi’s total police strength gives a ratio of one cop for every 700 citizens, and if more than 11,000 policemen deployed for VVIP security and investigation purposes were not counted, even this number would soar to one cop per 1,250 citizens.
A July 2014 Sindh police report titled “Analysis of the impact of targeted operation in Karachi,” had disclosed that while a strength of 26,647 policemen was sanctioned for Karachi in papers, only 14,433 policemen were actually available to maintain law and order and guard the lives and properties of more than 18 million people of this biggest metropolis of the country.
The report had added that some 8,541 policemen were deployed for security purposes and 3,102 personnel were separated for investigation of criminal cases.
According to the report, the breakup of the police force deployed for security purposes showed that while some 6,127 policemen were hooked to general security, some 204 were deployed at the Chief Minister’s House, 119 were posted at the Governor’s House, 474 were reserved for courts, 767 were posted in Foreign Security Cell, 708 were posted in Muhafiz and Madadgar-15 forces, 129 were roaming around in the city with the Anti-Encroachment Cell and 13 were positioned in Private Security Cell.
Citing the Police Rules, the Sindh Police report had stated that the total strength of cops deputed for watch and ward duties should not exceed the ratio of one constable for every 450 inhabitants, arguing that the international ratio was just 222 security personnel deployed for every 100,000 inhabitants.
Research conducted by the Jang Group and Geo Television Network also shows that the United Nations recommends a minimum police strength of 222 per 100,000 people, meaning thereby that the Sindh Police figures in this report under review could easily be trusted.
Drawing a comparison of cops deputed in Karachi with other large cities of the world, the Sindh Police report said London enjoyed the services of a police force that was twice as big as the one looking after security in Pakistan’s largest city. London, the report maintained, had a healthy ratio of one policeman for 152 people!
Similarly, the strength of civilian security personnel in New York was one policeman for 237 people. Even New Delhi had a healthy ratio of one policeman for 291 people.
The breakup of Federal forces by mid November 2013 was as follows: Frontier Corps (24,130), Frontier Constabulary (28,122), Pakistan Rangers Punjab (23,123), Pakistan Rangers Sindh (25,163), Pakistan Coast Guards (5,060), Northern Areas Scouts (3,867) and Intelligence Bureau (about 5,000). Meanwhile, the number of Islamabad police personnel had rested at 7,246.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Pakistan had a homicide rate of 7.7 per 100,000 population and total murder count in this terrorism-ridden nation had stood at 13,846.
India had a police force of 1,585,353 (1.585 million) or just 130 cops per 100,000 people in 2013.
India’s homicide rate had stood at 3.5 per 100,000 population and a total murder count of 43,355.
Talking of the strengths of police forces in other countries of the world, by seeking help from reports published by the “Eurostat” and the globally-read magazine “Economist,” one finds that the total strength of the Japanese police had reached approximately 291,475 by 2010. This strength included about 14,900 female police officers.
Japan had a homicide rate of 0.3 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 442.
France had a police force of 228,402, which meant that there were 369 cops per 100,000 people.
France had a homicide rate of only one per 100,000 population and total murder count of 665.
Zimbabwe, according to the “Voice of America,” had a police force of 50,000 and 401 cops per 100,000 people were deputed to safeguard the country’s public against crime.
Zimbabwe had a homicide rate of 10.6 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 1,450.
In Northern Ireland, according to Eurostat, some 411 cops per 100,000 people were deputed in 2012 to safeguard the country’s public against crime. The Northern Ireland police force figures for 2015 stand at 6,813.
Ireland had a homicide rate of 1.2 per 100,000 population and a total murder count of 54 only.
Croatia, according to Eurostat, had a police force of 19,823 or 446 cops per 100,000 people.
Croatia had a homicide rate of 1.2 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 51 only.
Malta had a police force of 1,844 only or 459 cops per 100,000 people. Malta had a homicide rate of 2.8 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 12 only.
Macedonia enjoyed services of 9,905 policemen only or 484 cops per 100,000 people. Macedonia had a homicide rate of 1.4 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 30 only.
Argentina had a police force of 205,952 or 558 cops per 100,000 people. Argentina had a homicide rate of 5.5 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 2,237.
Cyprus had a police force of 5,280 only or 668 cops per 100,000 people.
Cyprus had a homicide rate of 2 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 23 only.
Brunei had a police force of 4,101only or a healthy ratio of 1,074 cops per 100,000 people.
Brunei had a homicide rate of 2 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 08 only.
Belarus had a police force of 138,432 or a very healthy ratio of 1,442 cops per 100,000 people.
Belarus had a homicide rate of 5.1 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 486.
Afghanistan had a police force of 122,000 or 401 cops per 100,000 people.
Afghanistan had a homicide rate of 6.5 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 1,948.
Austria had a police force of 27,500 or 326 cops per 100,000 people.
Austria had a homicide rate of 0.9 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 77.
Australia had a police force of 49,242 or 217 cops per 100,000 people in 2009.
Australia had a homicide rate of 1.1 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 254 in 2012.
Bangladesh had a police force of 135,000 or 83 cops per 100,000 people in 2009.
Bangladesh had a homicide rate of 2.7 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 4,169 in 2012.
Canada had a police force of 67,425 or 202 cops per 100,000 people in 2009.
Canada had a homicide rate of 1.6 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 543 in 2012.
China had a police force of over 1.6 million or hardly 120 cops per 100,000 people in 2007.
China had a homicide rate of just one per 100,000 population and total murder count of 13,410 in 2012.
Thailand had a police force of 230,000 or 538 cops per 100,000 people.
Thailand had a homicide rate of 5 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 3,307.
Sri Lanka had a police force of 89,000 or 438 cops per 100,000 people.
Sri Lanka had a homicide rate of 3.4 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 707.
Switzerland had a police force of 17,600 or 221 cops per 100,000 people.
Switzerland had a homicide rate of 0.6 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 46.
Sweden had a police force of 19,144 or 208 cops per 100,000 people in 2009.
Sweden’s homicide rate had stood at 0.7 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 68 in 2012.
South Korea had a police force of 93,600 or 195 cops per 100,000 people in 2004.
South Korean homicide rate had stood at 0.9 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 427 in 2012.
South Africa had a police force of 156,489 or 317 cops per 100,000 people.
The South African homicide rate had stood at a very high 31 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 16,259 in 2012.
Singapore had a police force of 40,000 or 752 cops per 100,000 people.
Singapore’s homicide rate had stood at 0.2 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 11 only in 2012.
Poland had a police force of 100,000 or 261 cops per 100,000 people.
Poland’s homicide rate had stood at 1.2 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 449 in 2012
Nigeria had a police force of 35,000 or 20 cops per 100,000 people.
The Nigerian homicide rate had stood at 20 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 33,817 in 2012
Denmark had a police force of 13,500 or 241 cops per 100,000 people.
The Danish homicide rate had stood at 0.8 per 100,000 population and total murder count of 47 in 2012
United Kingdom had a police force of 129,584 or 237 cops per 100,000 people.
The British homicide rate had stood at one per 100,000 population and a total murder count of 653.
Finland had a police force of 7,800 or 142 cops per 100,000 people.
The Finnish homicide rate had stood at 1.6 per 100,000 population and a total murder count of 89 only.
Germany had a police force of 243,625 or 296 cops per 100,000 people in 2010.
The German homicide rate had stood at 0.8 per 100,000 population and a total murder count of 662.
Hungary had a police force of 33,487 or 333 cops per 100,000 people in 2009.
Hungary’s homicide rate had stood at 1.3 per 100,000 population and a total murder count of 132.
Indonesia had a police force of 579,000 or 243 cops per 100,000 people.
Indonesia’s homicide rate had stood at 0.6 per 100,000 population and a total murder count of 1,456.
Iran had a police force of 60,000 or just 80 cops per 100,000 people.
Iran’s homicide rate had stood at 3.9 per 100,000 population and a total murder count of 3,126.