POLICE POWERS AND CITIZEN REMEDIES: A COMPARATIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS OF INDIA, THE UK, AND THE USA
AUTHOR – SAHAJDEEP SINGH, STUDENT OF LAW DEPARTMENT, 6TH SEMESTER, CT UNIVERSITY
BEST CITATION – SAHAJDEEP SINGH, POLICE POWERS AND CITIZEN REMEDIES: A COMPARATIVE LEGAL ANALYSIS OF INDIA, THE UK, AND THE USA, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (4) OF 2026, PG. 01-05, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
ABSTRACT
This paper examined the structure and functioning of policing systems in India, the United Kingdom, and the United States with specific emphasis on the availability and effectiveness of remedies against police misconduct. It analyzed the legal foundations governing police powers, including statutory frameworks such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam in India, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 in the United Kingdom, and constitutional protections in the United States. The study compared how these jurisdictions regulated police authority and responded to misuse of power.
The research identified that although India established a comprehensive legal framework, enforcement of remedies remained inconsistent and often ineffective in practice. It evaluated key structural issues such as political interference, custodial violence, and absence of independent oversight mechanisms. In contrast, the United Kingdom and the United States demonstrated relatively stronger enforcement structures where procedural violations directly affected prosecution and accountability outcomes, though challenges such as excessive force and bias persisted.
The paper further assessed the limitations of existing remedial systems and proposed targeted reforms, including the introduction of a remedy trigger mechanism, independent complaint authorities with binding powers, and stricter liability standards. It concluded that the legitimacy of policing depended not merely on legal provisions but on the certainty and effectiveness of remedies in addressing misconduct.
Keywords: Policing, usa police, indian police, uk police, police misconduct, remedies, bnss, bns, bsa.