What Is An Inspection Memo?

An Inspection Memo is a short description of an arrested individual’s physical condition when they are brought into custody. It must record the general physical condition and note major and minor injuries of the person. This procedure is meant to ensure that there is no beating or torture of the arrested individual by the police while in custody.

Once prepared, the document must be verified and then signed by the arrested individual and the police. The police must give the individual a copy.

It is the right of any individual who is taken into police custody to have an Inspection Memo prepared for themselves and the law mandates that the police do so.

Do I Have To Go If The Police Ask Me To Come To The Station?

Can Family Members Of A Suspect Also Be Arrested?

Search Of An Arrested Person

When the police make an arrest they are within the law to conduct a body search of the person that they are arresting. Any item found on the person of the arrested individual can be retained by the police as evidence, though the officer must make a record of items taken and give the arrested person a receipt for the same.

If a female is arrested, then she can only be searched by a female police officer and with strict decency.

 

When conducting a search of someone's person, under no circumstance can the police make the suspect remove or give up the clothes that he or she is wearing.

This is mandated by Section 51 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Disciplinary Action For Police Officers

A police officer, just like any civilian, can be punished for   breaking the law or can be brought up on disciplinary action for failure to perform his duty or an abuse of power. 

If an officer breaks the law or commits a crime then he can be arrested, brought before the courts and tried just like anyone else.

If it is reported (by a citizen or peer) that he has been rude, behaved badly, abused his power or failed to do his duty, then a senior officers can punish him by giving him a warning, cutting his pay, reducing his rank, suspending him or transferring him.

If a very serious allegation is made and found to be true against a police officer, he can be discharged of his duty and removed from the force.

Details To Give When Filing An FIR

If you are a victim or witness of a crime give clear descriptions of all that you experienced, saw or remember. If you are filing an FIR for a crime that you have second hand knowledge of, then report exactly what you were told or what you heard. Information should never be exaggerated or false.

Important details to include are the date, time, location and a description of the culprits or people involved. The sequence of events that occurred and details of what each person did or said.

REMEMBER THAT NO DETAIL IS TOO SMALL OR INCONSEQUENTIAL TO MENTION!

When giving details in an FIR report try and be as objective as possible and not let emotions come in the way. Stick to the facts and keep the report free from any assumptions or conclusions you might have drawn.

How Does One Join The Police?

Any Indian citizen canjoin the police force. However, you have to fulfil the conditions and standards laid down for the particular rank that you wish to join at.To join as a constable you need to have at least passed high school. To join as a Sub Inspector you need to be a graduate.

There are three levels at which you can join the force. At the state level you can join either as a constable and go up to Deputy Superintendent of Police or you can join at Sub-Inspector level and get promoted all the way up to Superintendent of Police, in charge of a district.

Constables and sub-inspectors have to take a written entrance test. If you pass you have to go for a physical test and then an interview. On clearing the interview, you are expected to undergo a medical check in order to determine whether you are physically fitto join the police. After these processes are complete, final selections are made.

IPS officers are recruited at the central level and ranks begin as either an Additional/Assistant Superintendent orSuperintendent of Police.To join as an IPS officer one has to sit for the preliminary examination conducted by the Union Public Services Commission (UPSC). Dates and venue are published from time to time in local and national newspapers. After passing that you must then sit for the main written examination and interview.

What To Do If The Police Refuse To Register An FIR?

If you are reporting a cognisable crime and the police refuse to register your FIR, you can make a complaint to a higher ranking officer such as the Superintendent of Police (SP), the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) or the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

You can also complain to the nearest judicial magistrate, who will order the police to register the FIR if deemed necessary. Ensure that you get a receipt of your complaint being registered.

You can also…

• Send your complaint in writing to the Superintendent of Police (SP) by registered post.
• Make a written complaint to the concerned State Human Rights Commission or the National Human Rights Commission that the police are not doing their duty of enforcing the law or that they are being negligent, biased or corrupt 

You can file an online complaint, find relevant information and also get the contact details of each State's own Human Rights Commission office on the website of the National Human Rights Commission http://nhrc.nic.in

Police In India : Facts & Figures

What Happens Once An FIR Has Been Registered?

Once an FIR has been filed the police are legally bound to start investigating the case.

The process of investigation includes, but is not limited to, collecting evidence, questioning witnesses,  inspecting the crime scene, forensic testing, recording statements and so on.  If the criminals are found, the police will make arrests.

Once the investigation has been concluded the police will record all their findings in a ‘Challan’ or charge sheet.  If it is deemed that there is enough proof on the charge sheet the case goes to court.

On the flipside, after their investigations if the police conclude that there is not enough evidence or proof that a crime has been committed they can close the case after justifying their reasons in court.  If the police decide to close the case, they are bound to inform the person who filed the FIR of their decision.