The Centre for Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Administration under the aegis of Department of Criminal Law, KIIT Law School (KLS) organised a two-day Online Lecture Series on ‘Roles and Responsibilities of Police in Criminal Justice Process’ on 14th August and 28th August, 2021. The lecture was delivered by Mr. Sabyasachi Banerjee, Advocate, Calcutta High Court and Special Public Prosecutor, West Bengal .
The Police have four basic responsibilities in the Criminal Justice Process – enforcing laws, preventing crimes, responding to emergencies, and providing support services. But the ramifications are way beyond the traditional role of preventing crimes and catching criminals. An understanding of the change of the place of Police in the Criminal Justice Process in recent years is essential when it comes to thinking about the future. A right-based approach needs to be made as an inherent feature of working of the Police.
The Lecture series started with the welcome note by the Centre Convenor, Dr. Paromita Chattoraj. Mr. Sabyasachi Banerjee started his discussion from the stage of arrest referring to the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, as it is the most important source of corruption and extortion by the police officers. He discussed it through various illustrations in which he engaged the students as the stakeholders to the process. He then went on to the technicalities of Investigation and various stages involved in it. He consciously and repeatedly stressed upon the dexterity, accountability, responsibility and impartiality as the essential and unforsaken elements when it comes to the role and responsibility of Police. At the same time, he cautioned how the position of a police officer in the criminal justice process can be manipulated and how the Honorable Supreme Court has actively played a role to avoid and limit it in all circumstances.
The important practice skills required were imparted by engaging the students in simulation exercises by the resource person. The Lecture Series ended with a question session from the students. Around 160 students participated in the Lecture Series.