Community policing and public safety a study of Kerala

Abstract

This study, Community Policing and Public Safety: AStudy of Kerala, critically ex amines the Janamaithri Suraksha Project (JSP)-Kerala's community policing initiative through the lenses of Riane Eisler's Cultural Transformation Theory (CTT) and Kelling &Cole's Broken Windows Theory (BWT). It evaluates JSP's impact on policing culture, public participation, and media discourse in one of India's most politically active states. Despite the significance of community policing, academic research on Kerala's experi ence remains limited. The study highlights the necessity of refining policing strategies to ensure genuine community involvement and enhance public safety. While demo cratic policing aims to protect citizens and prevent crime, political influences often un dermine its effectiveness. This research also explores how public and media narratives shape perceptions of community policing in Kerala, calling for continuous assessment and improvement of such models to foster trust and cooperation. Using historical, descriptive, and anlytical methods, the study examines the evo lution of plicing, community policing strategies in India, and JSP's implementation. A comparative analysis situates JSP within broader theoretical frameworks, drawing from primary and secondary sources, including government documents, books, jour nals, newspapers, and online materials. Findings indicate that while JSP promotes community engagement, it falls short of CTT's participatory governance ideals, in stead positioning the public as cooperative agents in state-driven initiatives. JSP aligns more closely with BWT, emphasizing early intervention and minor crime deterrence to maintain social order. However, enforcement remains selective, with rural areas facing stricter policing, reinforcing existing social hierarchies and disparities. Challenges to JSP's effectiveness include limited public participation, discrimina tory policing practices, training deficiencies, transparency issues, staff shortages, and excessivc workloads. Despite Kerala Police's advancements in IT, systemic issues- such as hierarchical pressures and a punitive work culture-continue to hinder progress. Marginalized communities remain skeptical due to historical discrimination and sys temic bias. Ultimately, while community policing in Kerala has strengthened public-law en forcement cooperation, structural, operational, and cultural constraints limit its full po tential. Meaningful reform requires redefining policing objectives, enhancing train ing, addressing disparities, and fostering inclusive, transparent community engagement. This research contributes to broader police reform discussions in India, advocating for a more participatory approach to law enforcement.