Urban Crimes in India

Component-I (A) - Personal Details

Role Name Affiliation

Principal Investigator Prof. Masood Ahsan Siddiqui Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

Paper Coordinator, if any Dr. Deeksha Bajpai Dayal Singh College, Delhi
University
Content Writer/Author Dr. Upma Gautam University School of Law and
(CW) Legal Studies (USLLS), GGSIPU
Content Reviewer (CR) Dr. Deeksha Bajpai Dayal Singh College, Delhi
University
Language Editor (LE)

Component-I (B) - Description of Module

Items Description of Module

Subject Name Geography

Paper Name Urban Geography

Module Name/Title Urban Crimes in India

Module No. UG-15

Pre-requisites Urban Areas, Crime, Types of Crime

Objectives To develop an understanding of the different types of

crime committed in urban areas of India.

Keywords Crime, Offence, Cognizable Offence, IPC, SLL.

Component II - e-Text

Urban Crimes in India

Introduction

The term ‘Law’ in effect refers to a sequence of cause and effects. It signifies a body of rules to
guide human conduct in a given society, and the person who acts in a manner contrary to these
norms commits a ‘wrong’. The term ‘wrong’ can be further classified into moral wrong and legal
wrong. The difference between both lies in the very fact that moral wrongs are not punished by
the State and are condemned by social disapproval. A moral wrong gains the stature of an
‘offence’ only when such act is prohibited by a legally prescribed code and when such act is so
prohibited by the State it becomes an ‘offence’.

Further, the term offence is a wide concept which includes civil as well as criminal offences.
Therefore, all the acts contrary to law, though categorized as legal offences are not necessarily
crimes. So, now the question arises that which offences are crime? The answer of this question
lies in the special features which are present in a criminal wrong. Such wrongs ,i.e., crime are
offences against the state unlike the other category of offences termed as civil offences which are
offence against a particular individual. Therefore, a criminal wrong being the wrong against the
state is investigated, tried and punished by State agencies.

Note:
Sometimes an act may be both a civil offence as well as a crime. Such offences are popularly
known as ‘Felonious Torts’. For example- nuisance, negligence, defamation, trespass, etc. In
such cases, the wrongdoer can be prosecuted under criminal law as well as a civil suit can be
filed against him.
 Crime

Offence

Wrong

Figure 1: Difference between Crime, Offence and Wrong

Understanding Crime
Crime, the term, though cannot be defined precisely and exhaustively has been known through all
the ages and civilizations. The various definitions of crime given by jurists reflect the penal policy
adopted by the State for social control. The acts declared as criminal are not only acts forbidden
by law, but also should be revolting to the moral sentiments of the society. Moral sentiment being
the flexible term doesn’t allow the crime to be a static concept and therefore it changes with the
change of the society. The concept of crime changes from time to time in the same country and
within a country or from country to country at the same time because it is conditioned by moral
values approved of by a particular society at a particular time in a particular country.

Sociologists perceive crime as a social phenomenon and understand criminal law in a sense of the
instrument that protects the social interest. Thus, what acts are declared as a crime in a society
depends upon the kind and number of social interests which are ought to be protected by such
declaration. In the words of Roscoe Pound, these interests can be categorized as

1. Interest in general- which includes interests in general safety, general health, peace and
public order, security of transaction etc.
2. Interest in security of social institution – which includes interests in domestic institution,
religious institutions and political institutions.
3. Interest in the general morals- which includes all social demand to be secured against acts
or conduct offensive to oral sentiments of individuals at a given time.
 4. Interest in conservation of social resources – which includes the idea that goods of
existence shall not be wasted which warrants that dependants, defectives and delinquents
are to be trained, protected and reformed.
5. Interest in general progress- which includes interests in economic, political and cultural
progress.
6. Interest in individual life.

Urbanization of Crime
Social changes affect the concept of crime in many ways which can be through development in
science, technology, through changes in predominant moral and social philosophy, through
changes in the structure of society, especially in its transition from a rural self contained and
relatively sparsely populated to highly urbanized, industrialized pattern.

Criminal offences dealing with the protection of life and liberty have essentially remained
unchanged, but offences against property have undergone more profound changes mainly as a
result of transformation of a primitive agricultural society into a commercial or industrial one. The
original crime of theft as understood in rural and less developed setup have transformed into
embezzlement and fraudulent conversion, so as to protect the owners of commercial property
against those entrusted with its handling. The growth of commercial and financial transaction has
made the offence of fraud increasingly important in an urban setup which is a modern commercial
society. The offence of theft, which predominantly penalizes the lower classes of society for
interference with the property of others has transformed into white collar crime in an urbanized
society. Even the concept of property has widened, which now not includes the tangible things, but
also assets like electricity, shareholder claims, copyrights, patents, intellectual proprietary and the
like.

Criminal Law in India

The criminal laws regulating penal liability can be broadly categorized into two categories:
Substantive Criminal Law – This branch of law includes Indian Penal Code, 1860 and other
Special Acts dealing with specific crimes such as the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Sati
Prevention Act,1987, Arms Act,1959 etc.
Procedural Criminal Law – This branch of law includes Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and
The Indian Evidence Act, 1872. Code of Criminal Procedure classifies the offences given into

(a) Cognizable Offence :

These offences as defined under Section 2(c) of Cr.P.C. are the offences in which
the police officer can start the investigation without the permission of the Magistrate
and has the power to arrest the person without warrant. The information regarding
the commission of these offences is recorded by the police officer under section
154 of Cr.P.C. which is commonly known as FIR.

(b) Non-Cognizable Offence :

These offences are the offences which are defined in section 2(l) of Cr.P.C. . The
police officer can’t start investigation regarding these offences without the
permission of the magistrate. The information is recorded regarding these offences
under section 155 of Cr.P.C. i.e. to say in these offences FIR is never recorded..
Further, the police officer is not having any power to arrest without warrant if the
person has committed a non-cognizable offence (except one circumstance where
the person refuses to give his name address to the police officer or if the police
officer believes that the name address is not true, then the person can be arrested to
ascertain the correct name and address.

Note:
Substantive Laws are the laws which provide rights and duties of the individual. The substantive
criminal law provides essential ingredients of every crime and also provides the punishment for the
same.
Procedural Laws lays down the procedure by which substantive law is to be regulated. The Code of
Criminal Procedure distinctly classifies the offences given under the IPC into Cognizable/Non-
cognizable; Bailable/Non-Bailable; Compoundable/Non-compoundable offences and also lays
down the procedure for registration of criminal cases, police investigation, inquiry and conduct of
criminal trials.
 Broad Classification of Crimes

Crimes under the Special and

i) Crimes against body: Murder,
Local Laws (SLL)
Attempt to commit murder,
i) Arms Act, 1959;
Culpable homicide not amounting
to murder, Kidnapping & ii) Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic
Abduction, Hurt, Causing death Substances Act, 1985;
by negligence; iii) Gambling Act, 1867;
ii) Crimes against property: iv) Excise Act, 1944;
Dacoity, Preparation and v) Prohibition Act;
assembly to commit Dacoity,
vi) Explosives & Explosive
Robbery, Burglary and Theft;
Substances Act, 1884 & 1908;
iii) Crimes against public order:
vii) Immoral Traffic (Prevention)
Riots and Arson;
iv) Economic crimes: Criminal Act, 1956;
breach of trust, Cheating & viii) Indian Railways Act, 1989;
Counterfeiting; ix) The Foreigners Act, 1946;
v) Crimes against women: x) Protection of Civil Rights Act,
Rape, Dowry death, Cruelty by 1955;
husband or his relatives, Assault
xi) Indian Passport Act, 1967;
on woman with intent to outrage
xii) Essential Commodities Act,
her modesty, Insult to the
1955;
modesty of women and
Importation of girls from foreign xiii) Antiquities & Art Treasures
country; Act, 1972;
vi) Crimes against children: xiv) Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961;
Child rape, Kidnapping & xv) Prohibition of Child Marriage
Abduction of children, Act 2006;
Procuration of minor girls, Selling
xvi) Indecent Representation of
and Buying of girls for
Women (Prohibition) Act,
prostitution, Abetment of suicide,
1986;
Exposure & Abandonment, xvii) Copyright Act, 1957;
Infanticide and foeticide; xiii) Commission of Sati
vii) Other IPC crimes. Prevention Act, 1987;
xix) SC/ST (Prevention of
Atrocities) Act, 1989;
xx) Forest Act, 1927;
xxi) Other crimes (not specified
above) under Special and
Local Laws including Cyber
Laws under Information
Technology Act, 2000.
Metropolitan Cities of India
The term ‘Metropolitan City’ here refers to city having population of 10 lakh (1million) or more.
The number of such cities has increased from 35 in the year 2001 to 53 in the year 2011. The
population of these 53 mega cities constitutes nearly 13.3% of the country’s total population. The
forthcoming analysis of urban crime pattern in the country does not refer to the total urban places
in the country, but restricts to only 53 mega cities having an urban population of only 1607.24 lakh
as per The Population Census 2011.

Different types of crimes are reported both in urban areas as well as in rural areas. It has to be
borne in mind that no crime is categorized as occurring exclusively in urban areas. An acceptable
definition of urban crime can be the different types of crimes which have been committed in urban
areas. Urban areas are defined as :
a) All places with Municipality, Corporation,Cantonment Board or Notified town area
committee.
b) All other places satisfying the following criteria:
a. A minimum population of 5000.
b. At least 75 percent of the adult male working population is engaged in non-
agricultural pursuits.
c. A density of population of at least 400 persons per square kilometer.

But, it is important to note that while types of crime may be similar, it is those occurring in urban
areas whose specification and ramifications are different from those reported from rural areas.
As per Section 8(1) of Cr.PC, the State Governments have the power to declare, by notification,
any area in the state comprising a city or a town, whose population exceeds one million (10 Lakh),
as a metropolitan area. Vide Section 20(5) of the Cr.PC, the State Governments can confer, under
any law, for the time being in force, on a Commissioner of Police, all or any of the powers of an
Executive Magistrate in relation to a Metropolitan Area.
 Table 1-Trends of Metropolitanization in India, 1901-2011

Census Year Number Population Percent of Urban

(millions) Population

1901 1 1.51 5.84

1911 2 2.76 10.65

1921 2 3.13 11.14

1931 2 3.41 10.18

1941 2 5.31 12.23

1951 5 11.75 18.81

1961 7 18.1 22.93

1971 9 27.83 25.51

1981 12 42.12 26.41

1991 23 70.66 32.54

2001 35 107.88 38.6

2011 53 160.06 42.6

Crimes in Urban Areas

National aggregate crime statistics may mask important differences among sub national geographic
areas throughout the country. Statistics show that crime rates in metropolitan areas, as well as the
criminal justice response, differ significantly from those in suburban areas, cities outside
metropolitan areas, and non-metropolitan counties. The uneven distribution of crime has
implications for responding to crime, supporting victims, and allocating criminal justice system
resources.
Urbanisation is an increase in population and economic activities in the urban areas which leads to
further development of towns and agglomerates to contain this rising population. It is a cause and
effect of heightened economic progress in a region (Census of India, 2011). It plays an enormous
role in social transformation and economic mobility all over the world. In fact, the process of
urbanization has been transforming the developing countries from ‘countries of villages’ to
‘countries of cities and town’.

When we talk about the challenges of urbanization, we can't ignore the changing lifestyle of people
in urban areas and the role this 'change' has to play in their behavior. An individual's position in the
society puts several limitations on him and he resorts to crime in a bid to adapt to these limitations.
Other than the option of resorting to crime, the person also needs to have opportunities to learn
how he can commit crime. This works on the basis of Edwin Sutherland's differential association
theory, which states that a person learns the values, attitudes, and techniques required for criminal
behavior on interacting with others. While things are not very different in rural areas, the intensity
of certain factors differs there. This difference can be attributed to the difference in urban and
rural living. In rural areas, cultural factors have a much more dominant role to play as compared to
other factors.

The connection between crime and city size is hardly a new fact. Criminologists have discussed the
urban tendency towards crime for decades. Wirth (1938) discussed the observed connection
between crime and urbanization and argued that this connection is evidence for his theory of
“urbanism as a way of life.” In fact, further back in time, social observers have for centuries
assailed cities for their supposed concentration of immoral activities. Jefferson wrote that “I view
cities as pestilential to the morals, the health, the liberties of man,” and Rousseau claimed that
“cities are the abyss of the human species.”

There are various theories that explain the connection between cities and crime. The earliest ideas
on this topic were written by Emile Durkheim, George Simmel and Max Weber. Wirth claimed
that urban crime rates reflect the more anonymous and unstable nature of urban life. Wilson and
Hernstein (1984) also focus on high numbers of temporary urban residents who fear neither
recognition nor community reprisals. Milgram (1970) claimed that cities create an informational
overload that leads bystanders to avoid involvement in crime against their neighbours. Jacobs
(1961) argued that cities abet crime when urban neighbourhoods lose (as they often do) their
traditional social structures.
Owing to a higher population density and close proximity of residences, the urban areas are
generally recognized as breeding grounds for the criminals and prone to higher incidence of crimes
compared to rural areas. The unchecked and unplanned growth of cities as well as a large floating
population is major contributing factors for urban crimes. Criminal propensity is also known to be
higher in urban industrial areas. Migration of poor, illiterate people having roots in a simple
environment consequent to migration suffer emotional instability in the urban setting. They are
easily lured into theft, robbery, smuggling and other illegal activities.

Urban Crime Pattern Analysis

The present analysis of metropolitan cities is restricted to 22 major specified crimes under IPC
and 21 specified crimes under SLL. At the All India level, over a period of three years from 2012-
2014, the cognizable crimes under IPC rose from 2387188 to 2851563, an increase of about
464375. There is a net addition of more than 1.5 lakh cognizable crime under IPC over a period
of three years.

Table 2: India: Incidence and Rate of Cognizable Crime, 2012-2014.

Incidence Rate
IPC SLL IPC SLL
2012 23,87,188 36,54,371 196.7 301.2
2013 26,47,722 39,92,656 215.5 324.9
2014 28,51,563 43,77,630 229.2 351.9

Over the same time period, the crime committed under Special Laws increased from 3654371 to
4377630, an increase of 7,23,259. There is a net addition of more than 2.5 lakh crimes under SLL
over a period of three years.
 India and Metropolitan Cities:Crime Rate ,2014

800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
IPC SLL

Metropolitan Cities National Average

Fig.2: Crime rate: India and metropolitan cities,2014

A total of 1,843,862 cognizable crimes consisting of 6,16,639 cases under the IPC and 12,27,223
under the S & LL was reported in 53 metropolitan cities during 2014.The proportion of these
crimes to the total crimes at the National level was 25.50 percent against the population share of
about 18 percent. The crime rate in Metropolitan cities for cognizable crimes under IPC in the
year 2014 was 383.7 per lakh of population as against the National average of 229.2 . The crime
rate in metropolitan cities for cognizable crimes under S& LL in the year 2014 was 763.6 as
against the National average of 351.9. The total Cognizable Crime committed under IPC in the
year 2014 in 53 metropolitan areas was 616639. Out of these, Delhi takes the largest share by
contributing 139707 cases. The other cities with large numbers of cognizable crime committed
under IPC are Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Jaipur. But, Delhi leads the pack by a large
margin.
 Incidence of Total Cognizable Crimes

140000

120000

100000

80000

60000

40000

20000

0
Kochi
Gwalior

Jaipur

Kollam

Thiruvananthap

Bhopal

Raipur
Delhi (City)

Patna

Vadodara

Jabalpur
uram
Incidence of Total Cognizable Crimes

Fig.3: India: Incidence ofCognizable Crimes

Delhi is the national capital of the country, but it is not for nothing that Delhi is always referred to
as ‘crime capital’ of the country too. Delhi contributes about 23 percent of the total cognizable
crimes committed under IPC in metropolitan areas of India. The second ranking metropolitan city
in contributing to the total number of cognizable crimes under IPC is Mumbai. It only contributes
about 6 percent to the total number of cognizable crimes committed under IPC by metropolitan
cities.

Delhi (City) Gwalior

Jaipur Kollam
Kochi Patna
Thiruvananthapuram Vadodara
Bhopal Jabalpur

Fig.4: India: Percent Contribution of selected Cities Total Cognizable Crime

The ‘crime rate’ defined as the ‘number of crimes’ reported per 1,00,000 population is universally
taken as a realistic indicator since it balances the effect of growth in population and size of the
State. The average rate of crime in metropolitan centres for cognizable crime under IPC was 229.2
per lakh of population and for cognizable crimes under SLL for the same year was 351.9 per lakh
of population. In the year 2013, Coimbatore reported the highest crime rate of 834.3 among the
mega cities in the country followed by Indore (809.9), Jaipur (780.6), Gwalior (715.6) and Nasik
(702.8). In the year 2014, Indore was the city with the highest crime rate of 885.9 closely followed
by Delhi (856.3), Gwalior (850.2), Jaipur (848.4). Amongst the top ten cities with the highest crime
rate of cognizable crimes under IPC, four are from Madhya Pradesh.
Table 3: Crime Rate

Incidence Rate
IPC SLL IPC SLL
2012 23,87,188 36,54,371 196.7 301.2
2013 26,47,722 39,92,656 215.5 324.9
2014 2851563 4377630 229.2 351.9

IPC Crime in Urban Areas: Violent Crime

Violent crimes affect the life and safety of the people. Such crimes induce a sense of insecurity and
fear in the community. The frequency and the magnitude of such crimes also affect the public
peace. The following IPC crimes reported to the Police authorities have been grouped as ‘Violent
Crimes’ for the purpose of crime analysis in this chapter.

I. Violent crimes affecting life

Murder, attempt to commit murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, dowry deaths
and kidnapping & abduction;

II. Violent crimes affecting property

Dacoity, preparation & assembly to commit dacoity and robbery;

III. Violent crimes affecting public safety

Riots and arson;

IV. Violent crimes affecting women

Rape.
A total of 25579 violent crimes affecting life were committed in the metropolitan cities of the
country. The All India figure for the same crime was 160699. About 16 percent of the total violent
crimes affecting life in the country were committed in the metropolitan cities. Delhi again leads
other metropolitan cities in the incidence of murder. A total of 472 murders were reported in
Delhi in the year 2014. About 13.34 percent of the total murders committed in the metropolitan
cities was committed in Delhi. Delhi is followed by Bengaluru (242) and Patna (205).

Delhi
38%

Metropiltan
Cities
62%

Fig.5: Incidence of Kidnapping and Abduction

A total of 15787 cases of kidnapping and abduction were registered in metropolitan cities of India.
Delhi again takes a large chunk of the total cases registered. 6061 such cases were registered in
Delhi. Delhi alone accounts for 38.39 percent of the total registered cases of kidnapping and
abduction in metropolitan cities. It is followed by Bengaluru (708), Jaipur (653), Patna (599) such
cases.
 Indore
Kanpur
Asansol
Gwalior
Lucknow
Jaipur
Agra
Patna
Bengluru
Delhi

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140

Fig.6: Number of Dowary Deaths

Number of dowry deaths reported from metropolitan cities in the year 2014 was 749. Delhi
dubiously again ranks first with 127 such registered deaths. Bengaluru is a distant second with
almost half the number of registered dowry deaths. It is followed by Patna, Agra, Jaipur and
Lucknow.

A total of 15666 violent crimes affecting property were committed in the metropolitan cities of the
country. The All India figure for the same crime was 45300. About 35 percent of the total violent
crimes affecting property in the country in the year 2014 were committed in the metropolitan
cities. The crimes committed under this head are significantly more in metropolitan cities because
of the high density of population, close proximity of buildings and escape avenues available.

Table 4: Violent crime Activity

Violent Crime Affecting Property

Metropolitan Cities India
Dacoity 517 4395
Preparation and Assembly to Commit Dacoity 674 2834
Robbery 14475 38071
Total 15666 45300
Source: NCRB, 2004.

A close look at the table reveals that about 12 percent of dacoity, 24 percent of preparation and
assembly to commit dacoity and 38 percent of Robberies in the country are committed in the
metropolitan cities alone. A city wise analysis depicts the fact that as in most violent crime under
IPC, for robbery too, Delhi stands alone first contributing a huge 41 percent of the total registered
cases in the metropolitan cities. 15 percent of the entire countries’ cases of robbery are committed
in Delhi alone. Delhi is followed by Mumbai, which contributes less than half (2094) of that of
Delhi figure. it is followed by Bengaluru, Pune and Nagpur.

A total of 6050 violent crimes affecting public safety were committed in the metropolitan cities of
the country. The All India figure for the same crime was 75331. About 8 percent of the total
violent crimes affecting public safety in the country were committed in the metropolitan cities.
Patna ranks highest in reporting riots. It is followed by Mumbai and Bengaluru. In cases of arson,
Delhi tops the charts again.

Safety and security of women is an integral aspect of analysis of crime scenario in urban areas. A
total of 5761 violent crimes affecting women, i.e. rape were committed in the metropolitan cities of
the country. The All India figure for the same crime was 36538. About 16 percent of the total
violent crimes affecting women in the country were committed in the metropolitan cities.

Delhi: Trend of Crime against Women

6000

5000
Number of Cases

4000

3000
2013
2000
2014
1000

0
Rape Assault on woman Insult to the modesty
with intent to outrage of women
her modesty

Fig.7: Delhi: Crime Against Women

Delhi is often described as ‘the Rape Capital of the country’. Among 53 Cities, Delhi city has
reported the highest incidents of sexual crimes accounting for 29.4% (1,441 out of 5,406 cases),
25.8% (3,069 out of 11,913 cases) and 23.9% (807 out of 3,375 cases) of total cases reported under
crime heads ‘Rape’, ‘Assault on woman with intent to outrage her modesty’ and ‘Insult to the
modesty of women’ respectively during 2013. In the year 2014, Delhi contributed 31.47% (1813
out of 5761cases), 26.67% (5709 out of 21399 cases) and 25.4% (966 out of 3804 cases) of total
cases reported under crime heads ‘Rape’, ‘Assault on woman with intent to outrage her modesty’
and ‘Insult to the modesty of women’ respectively.

Crimes under special and local laws

53 cities have reported 12,27,223 cases registered as crimes under special & local laws during the
year 2014as compared to 12,03,514 cases in the year 2013. The incidence of crime under SLL
during the year 2014 shows an increase of 1.96% in mega cities as compared to increase of 1.52%
observed at the national level. Chennai contributed the highest proportion of cognizable crime
(almost 12 percent) under SLL category. It was followed by Agra in the year 2014.
Table 5: Cognizable Crime Under SLL Category
Cognizable Crime Under SLL Category
Year Incidence Rate
2009 8,91,576 826.5
2010 11,19,621 1037.8
2011 11,49,059 713.2
2012 11,03,858 685.2
2013 12,03,514 748.8
2014 12,27,223 763.6
Source: NCRB, 2014
Among 53 mega cities, 72% of cases under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act were
reported in Mumbai. 37.37 % of cases under Prohibition Act were reported in Surat , 28.84 % of
cases under Explosive and Explosive Substances were reported in Allahabad. 11.77% of cases
under Arms Act were reported from Ghaziabad.

Crime rate (SLL)

For the cognizable crime under SLL category, the crime rate in mega cities (763.6) was more than
twice of the National average (351.9). The highest crime rate of SLL crimes during the year 2014
was reported from Raipur (11457.7) followed by Agra (7953.2).

Conclusions

Crime is primarily the outcome of multiple adverse social, economic, cultural and family
conditions. To prevent crime, it is important to have an understanding of its roots. Social root
causes of crime are: inequality, not sharing power, lack of support to families and neighborhoods,
real or perceived inaccessibility to services, lack of leadership in communities, low value placed on
children and individual well-being, the overexposure to television as a means of recreation. One of
the significant causes is unemployment. Because people do not have a stable job which helps them
to pay everything in their lives, such as foods, clothes, so they cannot improve their lives. As a
result, although something is unlawful, they must do to have money.

Crime can be closely linked to the conditions for children in our community. There is a strong
link between reducing risk and building resilience in children and decreasing crime. Problems
arise when the larger social, political and economic systems within which children live jeopardize
the family's resources and create stress on the family unit. As a result, the provision of appropriate
care and required resources to all children will have great significance for their long term physical,
intellectual, and emotional well-being and their development into independent, healthy adults.