10% dip in crime, thanks to technology: NTR dist CP

NTR district Police Commissioner SV Rajashekara Babu has stated that crime in the district decreased due to the department’s focus on technology-driven policing. In 2023, 6,477 cases were reported, which dropped to 5,780 in 2024, marking a reduction of 10.76%. However, certain categories showed an increase, including crimes against SC/ST communities (+15.94%), cybercrimes (+73.14%), and crimes against property (+3.2%).
The Commissioner highlighted several key improvements in 2024, including enhanced security measures for major events such as the Dasara festival and the Swarnandhra 2047 celebrations. The department also deployed the “E-Pahara” surveillance system and utilised AI tools in the “Astram” initiative for traffic management and community engagement. Additionally, the police played a crucial role in responding to the Vijayawada floods, implemented cyber safety campaigns, and launched “Cloud Patrols” using cloud-based monitoring tools.
The department’s technological initiatives significantly contributed to crime detection. The use of drones saw a sharp rise, from 41 in 2023 to 685 in 2024. Over 1,900 government-installed CCTVs helped detect 635 cases. The Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) aided in solving 66 property offences and two bodily offences, with 1,979 new fingerprints collected and property worth Rs 56.82 lakh recovered.
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