Amid widespread public backlash, the Sindh police authorities have taken decisive action to curb the growing street crime in Karachi. Inspector General of Sindh Police, Ghulam Nabi Memon, announced the formation of special teams tasked with utilizing the latest technology to analyze closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and collect data to tackle the surge in street crimes effectively.
In an exclusive interview with Dawn, IG Memon highlighted the primary challenges faced by the police department, specifically robberies resulting in murder or injury. Despite these challenges, he asserted that the crime rate in the city is gradually declining due to the police’s concerted efforts.
Rising Crime Statistics and Police Response
According to data maintained by the police and the Citizens Police Liaison Committee, between January 1 and May 31, 2024, a total of 58 citizens were fatally shot by robbers. Of these cases, 56 were registered, 41 were detected, and 17 alleged street criminals were killed in encounters with the police. Additionally, 53 suspects were arrested. During the same period, 197 people were injured in robberies, with 155 cases registered. Out of these, 99 cases were detected, resulting in 19 suspects being killed and 125 arrested.
"The detection rate of street crimes is 70%, which shows that the police are working effectively,” IG Memon emphasized.
Decline in Street Crime Incidents
Detailed monthly data reveals a downward trend in street crime incidents: 252 incidents per day in January, 251 in February and March, 189 in April, and 151 in May. In early June, over 100 incidents were recorded per day, indicating a continued decline.
IG Memon attributed this decline to three main factors:
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Special Police Teams and CCTV Footage Analysis: Special teams were established to collect and analyze CCTV footage, leading to the identification and targeted action against suspects. This resulted in a significant increase in arrests, with 1,300 suspects being apprehended each month, up from 900-1,000 previously.
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Crackdown on Scrap Dealers: The police identified that 30% of stolen vehicles were sold outside the city, while 70% were sold to local scrap dealers. Out of an estimated 3,000 scrap dealers, 354 were involved in purchasing stolen vehicles. The police formed 34 teams to crack down on these dealers, arresting and booking 100 suspects, thereby reducing vehicle theft by 30%.
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Enhanced Surveillance and Rapid Response: Rapid Response Force policemen were deployed at highway entry and exit points, and CCTV cameras with number plate recognition technology were installed. This initiative includes monitoring 40 toll plazas with 10 to 20 cameras each and launching the Rs1.4 billion S-4 package to install cameras along the 37-kilometer Northern Bypass.
Combatting Mobile Phone Theft
The police have also launched a crackdown on buyers of stolen cell phones, significantly reducing this type of street crime by 50%. At the beginning of the year, 81 mobile phones were being snatched daily, but this number dropped to 45 per day in May and 20-30 per day in early June.
Improved Investigations and Future Plans
To enhance the investigation process and secure convictions for the 5,000-6,000 arrested street criminals, the police have reassigned robbery-with-murder cases to dedicated investigation officers from the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) and assigned 60 officers to handle robbery-with-injury cases. Each officer is equipped with the necessary resources, including computers, to manage their caseload effectively.
The Sindh government is expected to allocate Rs220 million for investigation purposes in the upcoming provincial budget. Additionally, a new software system has been developed in collaboration with Sindh Bank to facilitate 15 types of expenditures during investigations, including witness protection.
IG Memon’s comprehensive plan aims to sustain and further the declining trend in street crime, restoring safety and security in Karachi.
