Policing climate change: Institutional readiness of law enforcement in Sargodha, Pakistan

Abstract

This paper looks into institutional preparedness of law enforcement in Sargodha district, Punjab to address the conflicts and crime brought about by climate. The study determines the adequacy of training, interagency coordination, resource availability, and perceptions of climate-linked crime using a quantitative survey of 120 participants consisting of police officers, community members, and researchers. The evidence has shown that climate stress enhanced the increase of petty theft, illegal exploitation of resources, and water-related conflicts, and policing reactions are mostly reactive. Lack of specialized training, funding and coordination are major limiters to effective prevention and response and this has been statistically confirmed using chi-square results. Placing the experience of Sargodha in the context of the wider climate-security literature, the article suggests that climate-sensitive policing should be based on the three concepts of capacity building, institutional integration, and community involvement. The capacity to enforce law at the district level is vital in maintaining law and order and social stability during the time of environmental change.