CPRCs have been set up in Punjab as a collaborative effort of the civil society and the police. The first CPRC was established in 2003 and subsequently these were opened in 24 police districts of the state. This unique model of community policing was conceived by the Institute for Development and Communication (IDC) which was adopted by the State Government. After four years of its launch the state government has asked IDC to evaluate this experiment, for its implementation at the sub-division and police station levels.
Each CPRC is an autonomous registered society collectively managed by representatives of the community and police functionaries. It provides citizens dignified access to police-related services and a forum to implement community-oriented programmes. The CPRC is a system of policing in partnership with the community, managed through committees having representatives of the civil society, specialists, NGOs, police functionaries and the civil administration.
The main focus of evaluation is to investigate the issues relating to ownership of the CPRCs and how far these participator systems structured for planning and management promote transparency, accountability and ownership. It would also be worthwhile to examine representation of diversity reflected in planning and operational functions and nature and level of community response to services provided by CPRC.
