People say police most corrupt: GCB
According to the 2013 study of the Global Corruption Barometer (GCB) released by Transparency International, Sri Lankans had rated the Police Department as the most corrupt institution
in the country for the second time within three years.
A global survey conducted between September 2012 and February 2013 shows that one out of two people believed that corruption had worsened in the past two years. Some 64% of Sri Lankans claimed that corruption was on the increase while only 18% thought it had decreased.
However the GCB survey revealed that more than 72% of the people surveyed in Sri Lanka firmly believed that ordinary people could make a difference in the fight against corruption. More than 78% showed their willingness to ask the Government to do more to combat corruption.
When asked for their views on the effectiveness of the government in the fight against corruption, Transparency International said 47% felt the government was inefficient in combating corruption.
The global survey also found that in many countries the institutions people rely on to fight corruption and other crimes are themselves not trusted. Thirty six countries view police as the most corrupt, and in those countries an average of 53 per cent had been asked to pay a bribe to the police. Twenty countries view the judiciary as the most corrupt.
The recent study showed politicians themselves had much to do to regain the trust as there was concern among the people about the inability of institutions
The global survey also found that in many countries the institutions people rely on to fight corruption and other crimes are themselves not trusted
responsible to bring criminals to justice. In 51 countries political parties were seen as the most corrupt while 55 per cent of the respondents think government is run by special interests.
The Transparency International’s GCB survey is the world's largest public opinion survey on the people’s views and experiences of corruption and governments’ efforts to fight corruption.