New Delhi: Appointment of Police heads needs to be made more transparent and honest in the country, the first women IPS officer of the country Kiran Bedi said today.

Taking a very dim view of the current police system, Bedi said, "The system is not giving you good policing. It is only individuals who act out of junoon that work". She was speaking on a seminar on Police Reforms and Civil Society.

"Police reforms are not in the political agenda and there is no impetus from the society too. If we want to save the country and put it right, police reforms are very important", she added.

Bedi felt that poor facilities of the policemen forced them to take bribes. "The government is worried about the jawan who is at the border while the internal jawan (police) is not cared for. Eighty per cent of police men are living in sheer hell. The population of India is young but its police force is aging," she added.

Bedi said that there was great need for internal reforms in the Police leadership for without effective leadership the police force was directionless. "The police leadership is not good as those officers who are honest, hard working and popular are not required by the government. Their very popularity in public is seen as a threat by those in the government."

Central government has not implemented Supreme Court prescribed Police reforms which have called for a fixed two year term for Police chiefs and selection through a committee. "It is actually a contempt of court," she added.

She suggested that NGOs should be actively involved in arresting the rising crime rate against women.

Source : PTI