Films creating bad image of police: PM

• Regrets media also not highlighting positive stories about cops
• Wants govt to engage filmmakers to depict the best of police

The film industry has created a very bad image of the police in the minds of the common man and I ask them-why? Yes, there may be some shortcomings but should only that be highlighted? Is it not our duty to remove these shortcomings by bringing into light the positive and good things – Narendra Modi

Guwahati: Film industry's portrayal of the police force has irked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who said cinema has created a "very bad image" of the police in the minds of the common man. He said the government should make a special effort and rope in a PR agency to meet filmmakers and engage them in a process to bring out the best of the police force.

“The film industry has created a very bad image of the police in the minds of the common man and I ask them-why? Yes, there may be some shortcomings but should only that be highlighted? Is it not our duty to remove these shortcomings by bringing into light the positive and good things,” he said.

"The image of films on the common man is immense and without their cooperation, policing cannot be successful", he said. “We must think about long-term strategy to change the thoughts and perception of the common people based on reality”, Modi said.

Many Bollywood movies have seen the hero playing out the role of a cop with leading stars of all times donning the police uniform at least once in their career. Modi also blamed the media for mostly highlighting negative news though “there are thousands of good news which do not find a place in the media”.

The Prime Minister also called for setting up of websites of every police stations, like he did as the Gujarat Chief Minister, to highlight the positive work done by the police stations.

Focusing on the police force and intelligence agencies, the Prime Minister said he wanted a force which takes care of the country's law and order in an efficient manner.

“By 'SMART' policing, I mean S for strict but sensitive, M for modern and mobile, A for alert and accountable, R for reliable and responsive and T for techno-savvy and trained”, the Prime Minister said while addressing the DGP's conference here.

The police force should inculcate these values to ensure best policing which will go a long way in improving its image and work culture, he said.