Crime in India, 2016 Report of NCRB
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has been publishing Crime in India report since 1953. Its 64th /2016 edition was published recently. This report gives data and insights into all the FIRs registered and their disposal under various laws including Indian Penal Code. It is considered to be one of the most authentic sources of information on crime and criminals. NCRB is wholly responsible for the collection of data to prepare this report. The latest report has a lot of firsts to its credit. It has made several new additions like addition of new entities, accounting, chapters, kinds of crime, new records on crime which have been undocumented till date etc. Hence, the latest report has made efforts to expand and prioritise effective and adequate record-keeping. The report has tried its best to emulate global best practices in maintaining criminal records.
Key questions from this information are as follows:
What are cognizable and Non-cognizable crimes?
Cognizable offense is an offense wherein a police officer can arrest without warrant. These include offenses of serious nature such as murder, kidnapping, offenses of waging war against India, rioting armed with deadly weapons etc. In non-cognizable offenses, the police cannot arrest without warrant. Most financial crimes are included in non-cognizable offences.
What kind of the information on crimes is provided by NCRB?
NCRB broadly provides vital information on cognizable crimes under two categories viz. crimes under Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Crimes under Special and Local Laws (SLL). Some examples of offences falling under Indian Penal Code, 1860 include:
- Offences affecting the human body,
- Offences against the state,
- Offences against public tranquillity,
- Offences against property,
- Offences Relating to Documents & Property Marks
- Miscellaneous – 498 A IPC, 509 IPC etc.
Some examples of Special & Local Laws (SLL Crimes) crimes include:
- Crime against women
- Crime against children
- Crime against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
- Offences against State
- Arms/Explosive
- Information Technology / Intellectual Property Acts
- Liquor, arms & narcotics drug
- Other regulatory & enforcement acts
- Environment
- Foreigner & passport
- Railways
- Miscellaneous SLL Crimes
As per the recent report, the percentage share of these crimes in India was 61.6% and 38.4% in 2016. Thus, majority of the cognisable crimes in India belong to IPC crimes.
Which states in India are top in crimes?
Under the IPC crimes, maximum share is held by Uttar Pradesh (9.5%), followed by Madhya Pradesh (8.9%); Maharashtra (8.8%) and Kerala (8.7%). Under SLL crimes, Kerala (24.1%) has top slot followed by Gujarat (15.5%) and Tamil Nadu (15.5%).
Which cities in India are top in crimes?
For the first time, this edition has provided information about the incidence of crimes and disposal of the same in 19 metropolitan cities which are having a population of above 2 million. The city-wise data has showed that Delhi had accounted for 38.8% of the total IPC crimes amongst 19 metropolitan cities followed by Bengaluru (8.9%) and Mumbai (7.7%). Under the Special and Local Laws (SLL) crimes, Chennai has grabbed the first place accounting for 32.9% followed by Kochi (12.9%) and Surat (12.6%) in 2016.
What is the significance of City-Wise Data?
As India is in the middle of the rapid and large scale urbanisation, the number of people living, or beginning to live, in urban areas has been increasing. With increase in population in the metropolitan areas it becomes crucial to collect crime data in these areas. This is because such data will help the city administration to keep track and maintain their law and order situation.
Second, the city-wise crime data collected across the nation will be helpful for the urban-law keeping authorities who can learn from the practices and experiences elsewhere.
Third, publication of such data is expected to promote a healthy competition among the metropolitan cities. For example, if Delhi is shown to have high crime statistics when compared with other cities, then it can take action against specific crimes which increases its crime rate, such as crime against women and take corrective measures.
What is the key information regarding missing persons & children?
The latest report has included a new chapter on Missing Persons & Children. The data in the report has been presented state wise which be helpful for the states to take counter measures to tackle problems like human trafficking, kidnapping etc.
Further, the addition of this chapter can also be attributed to Supreme Court’s direction regarding data on “missing (& traced) persons and children.”NCRB has fulfilled the direction of Supreme Court in this edition’s Crime in India report.
According to this report, 5,49,008 individuals comprising 2,34,334 males and 3,14,674 females were reported missing across the country in 2016. In case of children, 1,11,569 were missing, out of which 41,175 were males and 70,394 females.
What is the key information on data on Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN)?
The report has come up with the details regarding seizure of Fake India Currency Notes (FICN) along with the denominations seized across the States/UTs. This data assumes significance in the light of demonetisation and Operation Clean Money.
As per the report, 2,81,839 notes worth Rs 15,92,50,181 has been seized in 2016.
What is the key information on seizure of Arms, Ammunitions, Drugs & Currency?
For the first time, data has been published in this report that provides information on seizure of arms, ammunition, drugs and currency by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Central Police Organisations, such as Assam Rifles, CISF, BSF, CRPF, NIA and SSB.
The significance of this data lies in the fact that data on arms and ammunitions will help to solve the problems of insurgency, gun violence, and other arms-related crimes. This is especially crucial in the backdrop of arms smuggling being a very big global problem.
Across the country, 56,516 arms and 1,06,900 number of ammunitions have been seized across the country under the Arms Act, 1959.
What is key information on crime in Railways?
For the first time, data has been included showing the number of registered and disposed cases by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) under the Railway Act 1989 and the Railway Property (unlawful possession) Act 1966 during the years 2015 and 2016.
How the report fares the Police Performance?
The report presents a very dismal picture regarding the conviction rate of crimes in India. As per the report, at the national level only 47% convictions happen in Indian Penal Code (IPC) crimes. This statistics show light on the performance of police personnel across the country. It is important to understand that the charge sheets and convictions impacts criminal behaviour. Needless to say, criminal behaviour is affected by conviction rate, beat patrolling, and the closeness between the police and community.
For instance, Delhi which has no political interference as the Police Commissioner reports to the Lieutenant Governor, only 9,837 people were convicted against 1,90,876 people who were sent to trial last year. Further, it has been found that only 58% of those arrested are charge sheeted in Delhi. The outcomes are despite the fact that Delhi’s population is smaller than Mumbai and the number of police stations in Delhi is twice the number in Mumbai.
Further, the Police in India have been found to give very low priority to DNA testing despite the fact that DNA testing can secure higher conviction rates. Delays in this crucial piece of evidence results in setback as DNA samples collected gets deteriorated with time.
Further, despite repeated recommendations from the Law Commissions and the Supreme Court, still the country lacks separate wings for investigation of crime and law and order. In several countries, the prosecutor, and not the police, decides whether to press charges on a person/entity. In this regard, the Law commission had suggested that a separate directorate of prosecution be established which is independent of the police.
In addition to these systemic issues, there are issues related to roles and responsibilities which affect the performance of police in India. For example, there is a need to distinguish between accountability and operational responsibility.
What the report has said on confusion over application of Criminal Law?
In India, there is confusion over the applicability of criminal laws. There is confusion in deciding the nature of crimes that has to be controlled by the application of criminal law. For example, cases that are related to liquor and motor vehicles dominate and accounts for a third of all cases registered in the country. While the criminal justice system can be used for crimes committed under the IPC, offences related to liquor drinking requires enforcement of administrative law and social legislation. Again this requires an altogether different approach which involves summary trials, altering societal attitudes and modes of behaviour etc.
What about the state of prisons?
In India, it is found out that around two-thirds of the prisoners are awaiting trial. Also, over 80% of the prisoners are sentenced to a jail term of less than 3 months. It is felt that these short term sentences expose prisoners to criminal indoctrination in prison and social condemnation upon release.
What is the way forward?
In India, expanded crime records have become a necessity due to the prevalence of complex kinds of crime and the huge size of population. In fact, expanded crime records are a must for security forces to keep pace with crimes and criminals. It can be fulfilled by improved record-keeping which helps in better understanding of crimes and crime scene.
But traditionally India has been a laggard in maintaining crime records. The records maintained are usually are not adequate, up-to-date and situationally commensurate records.
With crimes and criminality becoming more complicated, record keeping must keep in pace with these changes. Also, the records should be maintained in such a way that the doubts over their accuracy and authenticity are minimum. In brief, adequate and up-to-date records which will serve as instrumental and intellectual resource for the security agencies are a must to tackle crime effectively.
Although it is encouraging to know that some steps towards this have been taken as evidenced in “Crime in India 2016”, even more needs to be done.
