The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics for the year 2016 ranked Chennai third in crime rate and second in crime incidence, including the IPC and Special and Local Laws (SLL) category.
However, with a total of 16,870 crimes under the IPC, which reflect the law and order situation in the city, Chennai ranks 17th among 19 metropolitan cities based on the crime rate and the seventh based on the number of incidents. According to the NCRB, Chennai has reported the highest number of cases of SLL crimes, a total of 96,977, accounting for 32.9% of total SLL crimes reported among 19 metropolitan cities, followed by Kochi (12.9%) and Surat (12.6%) in 2016.
According to senior police officers, the SLL category pertains to preventive measures and enforcement of social legislation. Crimes under the Gambling Act, Information and Technology Act, Electricity Act, Arms Act and Wildlife Act are included.
“We lead in cases under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act with four. We also lead in the number of cases under the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act with 205. This means there has been better crackdown on anti-social elements and issues. The city ranked very low in IPC crimes,” said a senior police officer.
Under the IPC crime category, the city has recorded a total of 133 murders in 2016 with 139 victims, much lesser than neighbouring Bengaluru, which has recorded 229 murders, and Delhi with 479. The number of dowry deaths in the city during the same period was only 5, compared to 57 and 144 in Bengaluru and Delhi, respectively.
Crimes against women
The city ranks 18th in crimes against women (IPC and SLL). The city still retains its tag as a safe city for women compared to other major metros, with 25 cases of rape.
Only 3 and 10 cases pertaining to voyeurism and stalking have been recorded by the NCRB respectively. The city also ranks second with 45 cases pertaining to counterfeit currency. It is behind New Delhi, which recorded 76 cases.
The city ranks third in the murder of senior citizens. A total of 10 cases were registered. New Delhi leads the list with 17 incidents, followed by Bengaluru with 12.
The city also shares the second rank with Delhi, with four cases pertaining to extortion crime against the elderly.
City Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan said the department had been cracking down on anti-social elements and was intensifying measures to prevent crimes. “Our main focus is now on the elderly. We are taking all efforts to prevent crimes against them,” he said.
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