(1)It shall be the duty of every Police-officer--(a)promptly to serve every summons and obey and execute every warrant or other order lawfully issued to him by competent authority, and to endeavour by all lawful means to give effect to the lawful commands of his superiors;(b)to the best of his ability, to obtain intelligence concerning the commission of cognizable offences or designs to commit such offences, and to lay such information and to take such other steps, consistent with law and with the orders of his superiors as are best calculated to bring offenders to justice or to prevent the commission of cognizable offences, or the commission of non-cognizable offenders within his view;(c)to the best of his ability to prevent the commission of public nuisances;(d)to apprehend all persons whom he is legally authorized to apprehend, and for whose apprehension there is sufficient reason;(e)to aid any other Police-officer, when called on by him or in case of need in the discharge of his duty, in such ways as would be lawful and reasonable on the part of the officer aided;(f)to discharge such duties as are imposed upon him by any law for the time being in force;(g)to afford every assistance within his power to disabled or helpless persons in the streets, and to take charge of intoxicated persons and of lunatics at large who appear to be dangerous or to be incapable of taking care of themselves;(h)to take prompt measures to procure necessary help for any person under arrest or in custody who is wounded or sick, and, while guarding or conducting any such person, to have due regard to his condition;(i)to arrange for the proper sustenance and shelter of every person who is under arrest or in custody;(j)in conducting searches, to refrain from needless rudeness and the causing of unnecessary annoyance;(k)in dealing with women and children, to act with strict regard to decency and with reasonable gentleness;(l)to use his best endeavours--(i)to prevent any loss or damage by fire, and(ii)to avert any accident or danger to the public;(m)to regulate and control the traffic in the streets, to prevent obstruction therein and to the best of his ability to prevent the infraction of any rule or order made under this Act, or under any other law for the time being in force for observance by the public in or near the streets;(n)to keep orders in the streets, and at and within public bathing, washing and landing places, fairs and all other places of public resort, and in the neighbourhood of places of public worship during the time of public worship;(o)to regulate resort to public bathing, washing and landing places, to prevent overcrowding thereat and in public ferryboats, and, to the best of his ability, to prevent the infraction of any rule or order lawfully made for observance by the public at any such place or on any such boat; and(p)to perform all duties imposed on him by rules for the time being in force under this Act, in the manner and subject to the conditions therein prescribed.
