Surveys show that victims turn to bribery and personal networks to get cybercrime complaints acted on. What does this reveal about the ethics of police–citizen interaction, and what reforms would you suggest?

The Status of Policing in India Report 2026 (Lokniti-CSDS and Common Cause) surveyed 8,306 citizens across 16 States. It found that cybercrime complaints often move forward only through bribes or personal influence, and more so for marginalised victims [1]. This means the police are handing out, as a favour, justice they are duty-bound to deliver.

What it reveals about police–citizen ethics

• Probity deficit: A victim who has already lost money pays again to get an FIR. Petty corruption becomes an informal "justice tax" [1].
• Partiality: Outcomes depend on "whom you know". This undermines equality before law (Article 14) and turns the citizen into a supplicant.
• Unchecked discretion: The officer decides whether a complaint moves. Delays, repeated station visits and pressure to pay follow [1].
• Empathy gap and eroded trust: The victim is victimised a second time, and only 49% of surveyed victims approached the police at all [1].
• Accountability blind spot: Official metrics count money blocked (over ₹8,189 crore across 23.61 lakh complaints up to 31 December 2025) but not how victims were treated [2].

Reforms

• Take discretion out of registration: Portal complaints above a set amount should become FIRs automatically within fixed timelines. This would build on MHA's victim-centric SOP of January 2026 [2].
• Transparency: Give victims SMS-based case tracking. Publish outcomes such as money actually refunded, FIRs registered and charge-sheets filed.
• Victim feedback loop: Ask every complainant on the 1930 helpline or the portal "Were you asked to pay?" and use the answers in station performance ratings.
• State capacity: States are primarily responsible for investigating and prosecuting cybercrime [3]. Dedicated cyber police stations and district-level forensic support should supplement the central NCFL (Investigation), New Delhi [4].
• Attitudinal change: Train police in ethics and empathy, apply a service-oriented code of conduct, and punish extortion firmly.

The survey's findings show an ethical failure at the station counter more than a technological one. Taking discretion out of registration, measuring outcomes and listening to victims can turn policing from patronage into public service. That would advance SDG 16.5 (reducing bribery) and the constitutional promise of equal justice.