VIJAYAWADA: An analysis of crime, like murders and housebreaks, which were committed in the city in the last six years shows that they occur in spurts.

Commissioner of Police Umesh Sharraf said that there was a spurt in murders and housebreaks in April-May (summer) and again in September. Both the spurts occur in the agricultural lean period.

Responding to the hue and cry by political parties and vernacular media following the double murder reportedly committed during the day in Satyanarayanapuram railway colony, he said that there was no basis to claims that law and order in the city was on the brink of collapse.

An analysis of data on murders and housebreaks in the past six years showed a marked decline in crime rate.

The statistics

The number of murders and housebreaks this year was less when compared to number in the previous year. Similarly, the number of such grave offences in 2005 was less when compared to the offences in 2004, he said.

There was a marked reduction in the number of property offences in the past four years. The number of property offences came down from 877 in 2003 to 554 in 2004. The number fell further to 456 in 2005 and this year only 129 offences occurred in these four months (that is an average 33 offences a month and 396 in a year).

Miscreants preferred to commit offences in daytime because night patrol had been increased to a great extent, he said. He urged citizens to report immediately crimes and suspicious characters for quick action.

Word of advice

The Commissioner said that it was very difficult for the police to check crime without the cooperation of people. The public should take precautions to prevent thefts and housebreaks. They should not leave houses unguarded under any circumstances, he said.

He said the performance rating of the Vijayawada police was better than other districts in the State Crime Control Bureau monthly reports.

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