Finesse, and not force is the way forward for police, posited former CID director Mohd Zaman Khan who believes that there must be a paradigm shift in the police force for it to adapt to the changing criminal, legal and social landscape.

"Gone are the days when you can shout and yell at your suspects. That way you may get evidence but it may not be proper, nor accepted in court," he told the twenty or so academicians, police officers, experts and civil activists at a forum in Universiti Malaya yesterday.

NONE The discussion, organised by the association of ex-human rights commissioners, Proham, discussed ways on how to strengthen the police force via improvements in its investigative culture and procedures.

The awakening of the public to their rights, the rule of law and acceptable police procedures have created a minefield which police must tread carefully, Zaman warned.

"Police must understand that the rakyat are educated now, they know about human rights and what police can or cannot do. Gone are the days when you can use force as a threat."

This he said, made knowledge of the law and proper police procedures important, something which he fears the police force is not up to snuff with, from his own observations of shoddy investigative techniques, lack of training and the falling quality of recruits of late.

"Sometimes a constable goes into the force straight after basic training and retires years later without going through any more training at all," he said.

Zaman called for the police to improve the training of their officers, especially investigators, to improve the quality of Malaysian policing and the ability of the police to solve crime.

'A little bit of kindness'

Sharing some of his own experiences as a police investigator, Zaman also said that the police could also learn to show some kindness and consideration, if not to the suspects, then to their immediate family when they visit.

He related how he sometimes broke cases just because he showed some consideration and kindness to the people involved.

Lately, the professionalism of the Malaysian police has come under fire from legal experts, civil rights activists and former detainees.

There have been complaints ranging from theft of property, improper investigative procedures, abuse of power, physical maltreatment and psychological abuses.

Zaman's critique joins those from a long line of experts, human rights advocates and even former police officers who have called for improvements to the police force.