Exploring the Factors Affecting Police Service Delivery in District Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan: An Analysis of Public Perspective

Abstract

Police, as one of the law enforcement agencies,
ensure peace and security in different parts of the country,
including district Swat. However, their effective service delivery
and significance were affected during the wave of militancy and
Talibanization in district Swat, which led to chaos and insecurity
in the area. This daunting situation of insecurity resulted in
public despair and distrust, even in the presence of the Police.
Meanwhile, many of the local inhabitants raised questions
about police services. This less effective role of the Police and
the resultant insecurity became the subject of the researchers'
discussion. In this study, an attempt has been made to unveil
the public perspective on police failure in their services. It also
seeks and addresses policy changes to improve policing and
mitigate these issues to ensure effective police services in the
region. This study was conducted in the Swat district. The study
employed qualitative methodologies like interviews and
observations to capture a rich, in-depth community perspective.
Research participants were chosen based on their experiences
and familiarity with the police department. The collected data
have been analyzed in the form of various themes. The findings
show that many factors have affected the service delivery of
Police. However, the significant factors among them are
insufficient resources, the indulgence of Police in corruption,
trust deficit and lack of cooperation, and slow police response
to the crime scenes. However, sufficient resources trust
building, public cooperation and coordination, and rigorous and
quick response to crime and criminality are some measures that
can make Police more effective in their service delivery.