Kolkata has been ranked as the safest city in India for the fourth year in a row, retaining the title, per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2023 report. The city had 83.9 crimes per lakh citizens, the lowest among 19 large Indian cities that have a population of over 20 lakhs, the Times of India noted. In comparison, the highest rate of crime was found in Kochi with 3,192.4 crimes per lakh citizens, and then Delhi and Surat. Hyderabad, Pune, and Mumbai are other comparatively safer cities.
Growth of overall crime is steady
Kolkata’s achievement comes at a time when its overall crime rate has been steadily declining since 2016, when the figure was 159.6 per lakh population. The total number of crimes in the city has also reduced for the second year in a row, with 11,843 cases in 2023, down from previous years, as reported by TOI.
Crimes against women see notable dip
The most heartening observation in the NCRB report is the fall in crimes against women. The cases declined from 1,890 in 2022 to 1,746 in 2023. Kolkata is now among the cities with the lowest crime rates against women, preceded by Chennai and Coimbatore only. The city witnessed 10 reported rapes of adults and 172 rape cases of minors, and 33 cases of sexual harassment of minors.
Policing, technology, and community initiatives credited
This achievement is attributed to better policing, technological advancement, better infrastructure, night rounds, and increased community cooperation. The report establishes Kolkata is safe and supports the government's strict approach to crime, said a senior minister, Times Now reported.
Violent crimes decline, murders record minimal increase
Violent offences also dipped overall, although murders increased marginally, from 34 in 2022 to 43 in 2023. The number is still lower than in 2021 and 2020.
West Bengal does better than the country's average
State-wise, the overall crime rate in West Bengal was 181.6, much lower than the national average of 433. The state had 1,686 murders and 224 cases of culpable homicide during the previous year, but did better than many of the larger states.
