How politics and policing link together is straightforward and meaningful. For example, politicians set the rule book for the police and decide what priorities and resources they should have. What politicians decide affects how the police interact with the community, and how much they focus on diversity and inclusion.

This also affects how they work to keep us safe. Rules made by politicians outline what the police can and can't do and holds them responsible for their actions. Politics also shape the process of finding, training, and assigning police officers, which affects how they interact with people from different backgrounds. A good relationship between politics and policing is important for building trust with the public, following the law, and addressing issues in society while respecting people's freedoms and rights.

Legal Framework and Legislation:
Polity provides the basis for policing by creating statutes that determine the authority, scope, and limits of criminal justice departments. The political decisions determine the legal context which defines the extent to which the police can exercise their authority as well as safeguarding individual liberty.

Policy Formulation:
Law enforcement policies are guided by political priorities that shape crime prevention strategies, community policing approaches, and investment plans. The political authority determines the line of policing that affects the general direction in which all police activities are channelled.

Resource Allocation:
The amount a state will spend on its police department is based on matters of polity; as such, a state's ability to fund its police, provide necessary training, and afford relevant equipment also depends on matters of polity. Law enforcement agencies cannot operate properly where the political decision on resource allocation influences them in one way or another.

Accountability and Oversight:
Political framework sets up instruments of responsibility like civic control committees as much as to make sure that everything is openly and cleanly dealt with. The polity is important in checking and balancing against possible uses and misuse by police officers.

Community Policing and Public Relations:
The nature of polity determines whether the emphasis is on community-based policing or not; promotes cooperation among police and members of society. Such strategies as engaging the public in political matters and being responsive in addressing public concerns can be encouraged by political authorities.

Political Pressure and Independence:
Political interference can be a hindrance to the effective functioning of the police force. Decisions, investigations, and even the resource allocations might be affected by political interventions leading aslant the independence of the police departments.

Crisis Response and Emergency Powers:
During emergencies, for instance, some political heads could give special police duties. These powers are limited by polity, which sets up mechanisms to protect against abuse of power in times of emergency.

International Relations and Policing:
The polity affects on international cooperation in policing and attempts into addressing transnational crime and world security issues. Collaborative endeavours which involve cross-border political decisions like sharing of information and joint operations are made possible by such political decisions.

Legitimacy and Public Perception:
The role of polity in determining legitimacy in a society towards law enforcement is also significant. Trust can be either enhanced or diminished through political decisions and acts which influence citizens' cooperativeness and support in policing.

Policy Evolution and Adaptation:
The polity is highly dynamic and thus, leads to the constantly changing policing laws. The political reaction to societal changes, advances in technology and emerging challenges determines adaptability of modern policing to current challenges.

Impact on Police Recruitment:
How governments impact police recruitment is deep-rooted, defining their focus, plans, and the amount of money they can use. The choices made by politicians help to decide the need for certain skills and traits. For example, being able to connect with the community, bring diversity to the police force, and follow new rules in law enforcement.

The budgets, set by politicians, directly change how recruitment drives, training, and bonuses that draw in candidates are managed. People's opinion on politics impacts their faith in the cops. This might either draw them towards a police job or push them away from it.

Laws and regulatory systems set by politicians create the eligibility and background checks, forming the selection process for new recruits. In short, the tie between politics and police recruitment is crystal clear. It influences the structure and ability of the police.

Impact on Assignment of Duties:
The allocation of law enforcement personnel is profoundly affected by the polity's impact, as political decisions play a vital role in strategically distributing them. These decisions, which reflect the government's priorities and concerns, determine officers' allocation to specific areas or tasks. They are based on factors such as crime rates, public safety needs, and political considerations.

Thanks to this decision-making process, police resources can be concentrated in regions with higher security risks to accomplish broader policy objectives, significantly affecting the efficiency and responsiveness of law enforcement in diverse communities. Moreover, political dynamics may also impact police leadership's appointment, which can have an effect on policing strategies and their direction in different jurisdictions.

Impact on Treatment of Black and Minorities:
The role politics plays in how police treat black and minority groups is deep. How politics decide on rules sets the larger scene where police work. Political leaders' plans affect how much focus goes on community policing, training for diversity, and carrying out anti-discrimination steps in police departments. Political goals can either address issues in the system to encourage fair and equal treatment, or they can add to a setting where unfairness and discrimination carry on.

Systems to keep a check on things, set by the political system, are crucial in making sure that the police are answerable for their actions, especially when dealing with minority groups. How willing politicians are to tackle issues of racial bias and inequality directly impacts the police culture and how much changes are put in place to ensure that the police treat black and minority individuals justly and with respect.

Persecution of Opposition:
When politics influences the police, it can cause problems for political parties who oppose the ruling party. Decisions made by the governing group can decide the laws, rules, and important points that affect how the police deal with these opposing parties. Sometimes, the government might use the police to quiet protests, limit public gatherings, or conduct investigations for political purposes.

This use of law and inconsistent enforcement can be exploited to scare, threaten, or illegally charge members of opposing parties. This can damage the value of a just and unbiased legal system. It becomes important for the police to remain independent in these situations. They should uphold the law and stick steadfastly to principles of democracy. This is monumental in guaranteeing a fair and unbiased political landscape.

Impact on Corruption:
Politics can hugely shape how the police deal with corruption. Legal rules, systems of checking power, and policies against corruption all come from political decisions that affect police departments. When politics is strong and fair, it can set solid rules to stop corruption. This helps to keep police accountable and encourage openness.

On the downside, if politics is weak or flawed, it may lead to a situation where corruption takes hold. This harms trust from the community and makes the police less effective. Right at the heart of this, are the political leaders. Their willingness to fight corruption, make changes, and back up independent checking powers is vital. It's what determines how well the police can deal with corruption among its officers.

Impact on Casteism and Communalism:
Government plays a big role in how the police handle problems like unfair treatment based on caste or community. Decisions from the top can change how the law works in these social issues. For example, active leaders can promote fair policies, put strong measures against discrimination in place, and help local police build trust and unity in divided communities. They can also prevent issues based around caste and community.

On the other hand, if the leaders aren't keen or are using divisive language, it can feed into these social divisions. This can affect police practices, making these problems worse or better. Government can gear education, awareness, and dialogue between communities. This helps law enforcement manage problems of caste and community better. It helps build a fairer and more peaceful society.

Impact on Majoritarian Rule:
Polity greatly affects the police's role in forming a majoritarian rule. This is due to the influence of politics in shaping the rules and structures that guide law enforcement. When the polity favours a majoritarian rule, there's a possibility of using the police in biased ways. This misuse can silence opposing voices, and sideline minority groups. Certain communities might become targets due to the political leaders' sway over law enforcement. There may be picks and chooses when enforcing laws, or some citizens' rights might be scaled down.

This action strengthens the majority's power. When law enforcement aligns with the majority's political views, it can harm key principles of democracy, individual rights, and law. Then, the integrity and independence of the police step in to safeguard these principles. The strength of the police is in straying away from undue political pressure, and sticking to the ideals of fairness and equality for all citizens.

Conclusion
Simply put, a country's political system profoundly influences its police work. Rules, laws, and guidelines formed by the government dictate how police function. Government funding for the police, law enforcement focus, and general strategy also stem from these political systems. This shapes officer recruitment, training, and even job assignments, affecting crime prevention and solving resources. Moreover, if a government values openness, accountability, and citizens' rights, it will interact with the police differently. Hence, good policing is tied to the choices and steps a country's political system takes.

Written By: Md.Imran Wahab, IPS, IGP, Provisioning, West Bengal
Email: [email protected], Ph no: 9836576565