We appreciate him for underscoring the imperative necessity for regaining the lost public trust and confidence in the police force by their deeds. We in the media promise him full support in his efforts.

So far so good. It is, however, his forewarning to the effect that the police would go into instant action if any law enforcer came under assault during any political agitation that has startled us.

Thanks to BBC and CNN, we have witnessed how in the vicinity of WTO meetings the police handle the burgeoning crowds of protesters with great patience, skill and tact. Lately, in Thailand violent agitation against beleaguered Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra was contained without casualties. Our police force needs to be trained in modern day crowd control methods.

Now, if the police should move into instant action while facing up to an assault by any agitator how then do they differentiate themselves from a band of goons? Mind you, when the police chief utters those words it will have an instant bearing on police action which more often than not is provocative. The incipient danger in such remarks from the police top brass is that these may be construed as instructions lower down. The essential thing to realise here is that the police are armed while the agitators are not in that sense, the latter having brick or stone chips to hurl. So, if the police are retributive the casualties can be heavy.

In this context, such remarks by the IGP may give rise to misgivings in the public mind, so that these now need to be replaced by such words by the police chief as will calm members of his force. Police-people confrontation is to be avoided at any cost.