For finer and faster data on crime

For finer and faster data on crime

National Crime Records Bureau gets better.

The 2017 report of the National Crime Records Bureau presents a mixed picture for the country. Though much delayed, the report breaks new ground through the addition of new categories allowing for significant diversification of data. However, the decision by the government to withhold figures for crimes such as mob lynching, murder by influential people, khap panchayat killing and murder for religious reasons is not a good move. The government must release this information at the earliest.

According to the report, there has been a steady rise in the number of cases registered across the country from 29,49,400 in 2015 to 29,75,711 in 2016 to 30,62,579 cases in 2017. This seeming rise in the crime rate could also indicate better reporting: more people coming forward to report crimes and greater willingness by the police to register cases. The sound practices leading to improved responsiveness by the police should be replicated across the country. There has been a 5% decline in the number of rioting incidents, but the total number of riot victims rose by 22% in 2017. Where the 2017 report breaks new ground is in the detailing and nuance in categorising data. For example, almost half of the offences registered under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act were insults and humiliation of Dalits — this information is critical for policy formulation geared towards prevention. The report also provides information of pendency of cases with the police and courts, including the period of such pendency.

Detailed crime statistics are an important instrument for improved policing and crime prevention. However, it should not withhold the figures for mob lynching, murder by influential people, khap panchayat killing and murder for religious reasons. Clear data will improve the quality of the public discourse and policymaking, to ultimately bring down crime levels. Another area that requires attention is the time lag in publishing the crime statistics. It is important to ensure that statistics are as current as possible, for debate on it to be meaningful.