Crime rate drops in first 4 months of 2019

Nellore: Proactive crime preventive strategies by the police officials in the city have finally reaped the good result when compared to last year. They are claiming that visible policing and presence of patrolling teams were influential factors for reducing the crime rate significantly during the last four months, this year.

Murders by 37.5 per cent, property related offenses by 38 per cent and crime against women by 34 per cent have decreased in the past four months which inspired the police personnel to go ahead with other measures to gain the confidence of the denizens.

The police have intensified the police patrolling during nights in the city limits and at all sub-divisions across the district have yielded good results. 24 murder cases registered between January and April in 2018 and the number diminished to 15 cases this year during the same period. When 428 property offenses were registered last year but it reduced to 267 during this year. There were 321 crimes registered against women and the number is only 213 this year witnessing 34 percent of low.

The interesting part was the district police formed 10 Mahila Rakshak teams in the city limits for preventing teasing against college going girls, harassment to women employees and also other difficulties for women who move in city limits.

There are six police stations in the district headquarters and accordingly, 6 teams have been attached to them. The other four teams have been attached to the women police station for pressing into action as soon as they receive any calls from the public.

Majority eve-teasing cases are reporting at Vedayapalem, Haranathapuram, VRC Centre and RTC bus station and other areas and these Rakshak teams react rapidly for supporting the victims.

Members of these teams keep a tab on offenders, eve teasers and others at colleges, offices, railway and bus stations, shopping malls, movie theatres and other important public places incognito for averting the eve teasers and others who resort to crimes. They apprehend the people as soon as they confirm that the reported women were facing difficulty.

They shift the people to the police station and conduct counsel them along with parents for not repeating such crimes that would impact their life in the future. They also inform them about legal implications if a case is registered against them which would be a black spot to their career.

Officials say the installation of CCTV cameras in the city limits helped them to reduce the crime rate since the accused fear of their identification if caught.

District SP Aishwarya Rastogi said that the accused cannot escape with the active presence of staff and cameras. He lauded the sincere efforts of police personnel, who performed duties during general elections.

Further, Police have booked 26 cases against 154 accused, who were involved in gambling activity and seized cash of Rs 4.65 crore in April this year. 3 cases registered against 15 accused involved in cockfights this year. They also have seized 42,722 packets of banned gutka booking 8 cases against the 11 accused. Police have seized 34,242 liquor bottles and took 350 persons into custody.

"Visible policing that assures the strong presence of police personnel at their vicinity gives strong confidence to the people and measures taken up by the officials have given good results for reducing the crime rate this year," added the SP.