New patterns in crime

More crime was reported in 2015 across India than in any year since 2005, when the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) started collating data from states.

The crime rate, reported per 100,000 population, increased to 581 in 2014 and 582 in 2015, from 456 in 2005, data from NCRB show. It was around 570 in 2009 and 2010. Notably, the rate in 2014 and 2015 also hid many ups and downs in crimes reported.

In 2015, human trafficking increased 42 per cent, enmity between different groups 26 per cent, road rage 10 per cent, forgery 23 per cent, and theft six per cent.

Among the crimes that showed a decrease were offences against the state at 17 per cent; crimes against women (five per cent); dowry deaths at 10 per cent (still, 7,634 women died in 2015); husbands "showing cruelty towards wives" (eight per cent) and robbery at five per cent.

While rapes, murders and dacoities reduced, this did not appear to be for want of trying. Attempts to rape, attempt to murder and "making preparation and assembly for committing dacoity", as the NCRB puts it, increased.