Crime rate on the rise in State

Hyderabad, June 13 : The State Government on Thursday admitted that there was slight increase in the crime rate in the State.

Replying to a question raised by MLAs D Sudheer Reddy and K Srisailam Goud during Question Hour in the State Legislative Assembly, Major Industries Minister Dr J Geetha Reddy, who has been given the additional responsibility of Home portfolio during the budget session, informed that there was an increase of crime rate by 2.37 per cent in 2012 compared to 2011. A total of 179,864 cognizable crimes were reported in the year 2012 as against 175,694 in 2011, 166,206 in 2010 and 168,191 in 2009.

The minister denied that the number of police personnel and police stations were inadequate compared to the increase in population. She said the Police and Population ratio in the State is 1:655 while the National level average is 1:761. The government has sanctioned 35,831 Additional Posts from the rank of PCs to Additional SPs to enhance the strength of police in the year 2007. Wherever the need was felt, the government is sanctioning new police stations, she said. INN