Police HQ won't take blame for misdeeds

While directing the higher command echelons of the police to take stern actions against its errant members, the Police HQ's refusal to take responsibility for misdeeds of any police personnel is surprising. Why then is there a chain of command within the police? Doesn't the function of command include oversight of activities of those being commanded? And as an automatic extension to that, aren't those in position of command then supposed to take responsibility for the actions—both good and bad—of their subordinates? 

Regrettably, a culture has developed within the force where involvement in unlawful activities by some of its members has become the norm. And the police will require time to purge such a culture and get rid of the bad apples within the force who are responsible for bringing it about. However, what must be admitted is that such a culture has not developed overnight, but has been established one step at a time, mainly because the policymakers in the force have not taken a long-term plan to purge a pervasive culture from the force. Mere punishment is not enough, since in most cases the nature of the penalties imposed on the guilty members rarely acts as a deterrent.  

But be that as it may, we are encouraged by the Police HQ's instruction for taking "stern action" against members involved in criminal activities. And we do hope that is followed through; replacing the usual practice of handing out a small slap on the wrist which will, under no circumstances, clean up the force. How the police function is crucial for the state of law and order in any country and hence, the police always have a big responsibility on their shoulders. It cannot have bad apples that spoil its credibility.