Research study draws on public perceptions to support Bangladesh’s Police Reform Programme
27 January 2012
The results of a research study into public and police perceptions of safety, security and justice in Bangladesh were recently presented to the Bangladesh Police, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID) in Dhaka. Saferworld worked with Mitra and Associates to complete the study at the end of 2011, making recommendations for improvements in police performance and for ongoing police reform.
The research gathered baseline data that can be used to plan for the future of the Bangladesh Police Reform Programme and measure its impact, based on reliable evidence. This is a long term programme aiming to build the capacity of the Bangladesh Police to improve safety, access to justice and human rights for all, with particular attention given to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. The reform programme is supported by UNDP Bangladesh and DFID Bangladesh.
Improving governance and increasing the capacity of the justice system are urgent priorities to secure a peaceful, prosperous future for Bangladeshis. Bangladesh has made good social and economic progress in recent years, but is still one of the poorest countries in South Asia. Many people live in extreme poverty, have little security and limited access to justice. Women and children are often the most disadvantaged and most vulnerable to insecurity and violence. Rising unemployment and higher costs of living, coupled with frequent strikes and public disillusionment, all threaten to cause greater unrest and instability.
Development of policing and the wider state security sector, alongside efforts to strengthen democracy and good governance, can help address these challenges - reducing crime and corruption, and increasing respect for law and order. If unaddressed these issues will continue to undermine personal safety and security, and hold back economic growth.
The Saferworld/Mitra research study involved two nationally-representative surveys, which collected the perceptions of the public and the police on issues of safety, security and justice in Bangladesh. The research also asked respondents about their perceptions of security and police performance and how these perceptions have changed over time. This information was supplemented with data from other sources.
The report then presented and analysed this information to assess progress towards the Police Reform Programme’s six outcomes: strategic direction and organisational reform; human resource management and training; investigation, operations and prosecution; crime prevention and community policing; promoting gender sensitive policing; and information, communications and technology.
The Police Reform Programme was launched in January 2005, with Phase One ending in September 2009. Phase Two started in October 2009 and will continue until September 2014.
