11 per cent dip in heinous crimes, but car thefts and petty crimes on the rise

New Delhi: Modernisation of policing has led to more than 11 per cent decline in total heinous crimes in the national capital, the Delhi police commissioner Amulya Patnaik said, adding that there was, however, a six per cent increase in total IPC crime.

Mr Patnaik said some of the important factors impacting crimes in Delhi are the high influx of migrant population, the pressures of leading a megacity life that leads to impulsive behaviour.

Police said modernisation of policing helped to curb crime. There was a mix of the state-of-the-art technology with basic policing. The police maintained a delicate balance between the two types. With modern investigative techniques, traditional beat level inputs played a major role in tackling crime and also in its prevention. Besides, separating beat level policing also played a major role in curbing crime.

Heinous crime in 2018 declined by 11.72 per cent. Cirmes under major heads like dacoity by 36.11%, attempt to murder by 16.26 %, robbery by 20.15%, rape by 0.78% and riot by 54% also came down when compared to last year. Even the incidents of snatching and burglaries have decreased.

However, motor vehicle thefts continued to be the area of concern as there was a steep increase in the number of cases reported last year as compared to 2017. As many as 44,158 cases were reported compared to 39,084 cases, giving it over 12 per cent rise.

Last year, 477 cases of murder were registered as compared to 462 cases in 2017. Out of these, 86.16 per cent cases were solved.

Last year, 44,158 motor vehicle theft cases were reported as against 39,084 cases in 2017.

As many as 2,307 cases of robbery were reported as compared to 2,889 cases in the corresponding period of last year.

In 2018, there has been reduction in cases pertaining to molestation of women by 3.05 per cent and insult to the modesty of women by 8.37 per cent.

Incidents of rioting saw more then 50 per cent decline. Fifty cases were reported in 2017 while only 23 were reported in 2018. As many as 6,274 accidents were reported in the national capital in 2018 as against 6,386 in 2017. As many as 1,604 persons were killed and 5,831 injured in road accidents in 2018. In 2017, 1,510 persons were killed and 6,332 injured. Owing to sustained efforts by districts and specialised units like the Crime Branch and the Special Cell, 91.16 per cent of heinous cases were worked out last year, as against 87 per cent the previous year.

The Delhi police said socio-economical gap is one of the important factors impacting crime in Delhi apart from heterogeneous nature of its population. Unemployment also contributes to the crime.

While the geographical boundaries with neighbouring states tend to increase crime as it makes an easy wayout for criminals from across the borders. Multi-pronged strategies were adopted to control crime which included crime mapping and identification of hot spots and identification of active criminals and preparing data of top criminals. Further police patrolling led by DCPs, PCR staff and traffic police regulated the crime, said special commissioner of police Satish Golcha.

Meanwhile, more than 400 police personnel were placed under suspension in 2018 for allegedly being involved in various corrupt practices, according to the data.

Action was initiated against 433 police personnel, including five inspectors, 52 sub-inspectors, 101 assistant sub-inspectors, 99 head constables and 176 constables, the data stated.

Also, 793 departmental enquiries were initiated, in which 1,008 police personnel were found involved, whereas 743 departmental enquiries were disposed off, it said.

On the other hand, 318 police personnel, including seven inspectors, 50 sub-inspectors, 45 assistant sub-inspectors, 52 head constables and constables, were awarded major punishments.