Crime in transitional society

Crime in transitional society is common. The crime rate is double in a transitional society than in a stable and peaceful society. During the transition period, society is engulfed [break] by lawlessness, people are vulnerable, government organizations paralyzed and police force is demoralized. Nevertheless, it is obvious that the role of police in transitional period is very important indeed.



Taking advantage of the transitional period, many criminal groups increase their activities expand their network. Usually in transitional societies, steps to curb crime are not taken on time because the full extent of the problem is underestimated, and the newly-formed government engages itself with the tasks of transformation of the state apparatuses. Nepal is no exception. People have high hopes and expectations but many hurdles and obstacles don’t allow them to materialize.

Without any doubt, the link between political transition and crime is more complex than often assumed. During the transition period some forms of crime may see an increase in the public eye, and some crimes may go unnoticed.



It is obvious that the role of leading political parities is more important than any organization in transition period. Subsequently, the role of police in transitional societies cannot be underestimated. Since many criminal gangs and networks try to take advantage of the transitional period, people wish to see a strong and efficient police force that is capable of thwarting the criminals’ dangerous designs.



Since Nepal is also going through a major transition at this juncture, the role of Nepal Police and other security agencies is very important.



Rise in criminal activities is normal during the transition phase in any given country. For example, during transition period, South Africa witnessed a surge in rape cases in the suburbs where whites were in the majority. In Nepal, crimes such as abductions and extortions are on the rise due to the easy availability of small firearms. Easy availability of firearms seems a commonplace occurrence in any transitional society, for example, South Africa, Latin America, Sudan and Nepal.

Criminal groups’ use of firearms not only poses dangers to the commoners but also to the security personnel. Open border is another major problem for the security personnel. Moreover, mushrooming ethnic and regional parties are providing shelter to the criminals. However, it is important to understand the pre-transition conditions to analyze the rise in criminal activities in the transition period.



Another major security concern during transition period is the rise in ethnic and regional parties, most of which are geared toward destabilizing the society by spreading rumors and propaganda. Moreover, even the mainstream political parties too, employ every mean possible to prolong the transition period and turn a blind eye to people’s sufferings. Also, it is quite common for the political parties, including the mainstream national parties, to protect the criminals, especially in the south Asian countries.



It is obvious that police has to earn its legitimacy by reducing crimes, and directly engaging with the people. Sometimes, to engage the people it becomes necessary to implement some changes. Even symbolic changes such as changing the uniform get people’s attention. For example, the debate over new policing symbols, including the change in uniform is quite heated in Northern Ireland.



At the heart of these engagement lies the questions who actually owns the police and who are they established for and paid to serve? In South Africa police encouraged and supported the criminals in harassing political opponents of the state instead of supporting the transitional government.

It is very essential in building the legitimacy of the people by ensuring effective forms of local control and accountability as overall public dissatisfactions with the police and level of crime in transitional societies is widespread.



In transitional societies the police force has to do all it can to ensure the civilians’ safety and address their dissatisfaction, if it wants to be seen as a legitimate force. Otherwise, we have seen that in transitional society people form their own “police” groups for safety.



Therefore, in transitional period any reform in the police force must be informal, feasible and manageable strategic structure but flexible enough to allow for short-term adaptation and under constant evaluation and scrutiny of democratic control.



It is not impossible to reduce criminal activities during the transitional period and maintain law and order. It all depends on the role played by the political parties and the degree of commitment on security agencies’ part. The key to success in fighting crimes in transitional societies is to make sure that political parties act responsibly and work together to rebuild social ties destroyed by the preceding regime.



Writer is police inspector



apilbohara@gmail.com

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