More women filing complaints

Mumbai: The latest Nation Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data states that in 2016, Mumbai saw 5,128 cases of crimes against women as against 4,819 cases in 2015. Experts have attributed the rise in crime against women as an outcome of better awareness and confidence among the women. Police said that women’s safety is a priority and hence cognisance is being taken in all complaints that come to them. While overall crime in Mumbai registered a dip with 39,617 cases being registered by the city police, the crime against women rose sharply. “I see the surge in figures in a positive light. It is owing to the efforts taken by the police that women are coming forward with their complaints. Hence, women and children-related offences have gone up. Figures merely don’t reflect the situation. Less crime figures in other cities in northern or eastern India doesn’t mean that the crime is less there, but the reporting is less,” said Flavia Agnes, an activist handling women issues and founder of NGO Majlis.

The police has also stated that several of their measures in past years including patrolling schemes and Police Didi programme for school children to spread awareness on the good and bad touch. “Special measures have been taken to encourage women to come forward and lodge complaints. We have observed that the rise in crimes has also been due to surge in cyber offences committed via social networking websites. Also, the definition of crimes against women has widened after the Delhi gang rape,” said a senior police officer.

The officer also added that they have been successful in spreading awareness among women and that is another factor, which has culminated in the rise in number of cases. “Earlier the mentality was to register less crime so that it did not reflect on the record, however, now the outlook has changed in a bid to bring in larger transparency in the system,” added Ms Agnes.