Examining The Role Of Police Personnel In Maintaining Law And Order: The Impact Of Public Perception And Engagement In Nagaon District, Assam

Abstract

This study looks into the role of police personnel in maintaining law and order in Nagaon District, Assam, and draws special attention toward the influence of public perception and community engagement. The research primarily uses Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze data from 384 respondents who have been randomly selected for a broader demographic representation. The result shows a very strong, positive relationship between the public and law enforcement effectiveness (β = .682, p < 0.05) and that public engagement is a critical element to improve the perceived efficacy of law enforcement (β = .681, p < 0.05). Public perception further mediates the relationship between engagement and law enforcement efficacy, making it more powerful. Robust relations among the variables are further confirmed through model fit indices, pointing to the dual importance of trust-building and active participation as essential constituents of effective governance. Thus, the study findings suggest that fostering transparency, procedural justice, and active community programs can substantially improve perceived and actual effectiveness in law enforcement in maintaining law and order.