Strengthening police integrity and accountability to build public trust in Nepal

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has published a handbook on police accountability, oversight, and integrity, which states that law enforcement institutions are entrusted with a diverse set of tasks requiring a high degree of integrity within police agencies and their oversight. Where this does not function well, law enforcement officers may become vulnerable to acting unlawfully and beyond their remit. A particular focus on human rights principles, along with sustained long-term efforts, is required to establish a framework for police oversight and accountability in order to strengthen integrity within policing systems.

It is necessary to increase public confidence in the police by upgrading levels of police service delivery as well as by investigating and acting in cases of police misconduct. Secondly, reducing corruption within the police is crucial. While on induction training in the United Nations’ various missions all over the world, curricula of the above-mentioned police integrity would be inculcated in the United Nations Police (UNPOL) personnel before deploying in the field for safeguarding the people or being an advisor to the National Police.