50 Resource book on the use of force and firearms in law enforcement INDIA: SCHEME OF POLICE ARRANGEMENTS For big events requiring police to play a facilitating or controlling role, such as elections, festivals, demonstrations, sports events, and pre-announced protest marches which attract very large numbers, people, the number of law enforcement officials deployed may extend from a few hundred to thousands. In India, for such events a written “scheme of police arrangements” is prepared in advance, after discussion among senior police officers. The scheme will indicate how police strength is drawn and deployed, duties are detailed to individuals, assigning responsibilities, explaining how command and control mechanisms will operate, etc. It will also specify communication systems, traffic arrangements, positioning of rifle, teargas and medical aid parties, administrative arrangements for food and water, collection of information, liaison with organizers, contingency planning etc. These documents are distributed or circulated (for example by e-mail) to all law enforcement officials involved, including the rank and file. It is also customary to issue press releases communicating relevant information to the public. 3.5. Creating a culture of professionalism and respect for human rights The role of the line of command in establishing an environment that facilitates compliance with human rights cannot be stressed enough. Maybe the most important aspect of this is also the least tangible: that of professional culture. It is the leadership that bears responsibility for establishing a professional culture that values the inherent human dignity of all people, including of the law enforcement officials and sends the message that the law enforcement agency does not tolerate abuse. Everyone within the agency plays a role in shaping the professional culture, the norms and values, but the exemplary behaviour of those in the line of command should never be underestimated. In order to establish an ethos that is respectful of human rights, they should make sure that they give the right example themselves, for example: • They should respond promptly, transparently and effectively to incidents of abuse whenever they occur in order to avoid them developing into customs and patterns that will be hard to change. • They should use appropriate language when talking about use of force, about lost lives, but also about gender and minority groups. • They should treat victims of crime and of police violence with respect. Establishing a working ethos that is respectful of human rights and is based on respect for human dignity is also visible in the working conditions under which staff should operate: • Clean premises • Proper sanitary conditions • Adequate living areas • Uniforms • Salaries and benefits All of these are indicative of how law enforcement officials are treated by their own organization. When working conditions are bad, this is likely to have a negative impact on the work ethos and consequently, on how members of the public, in particular less privileged groups, are treated.