CCTV brings down crime rate in Kozhikode, claims police

Kozhikode: Eve-teasing as well as pick-pocketing have drastically come down at the mofussil bus stand, thanks to the nine CCTV cameras installed under the initiative of the district administration last year.

There were complaints that the area was notorious for the sale and exchange of drugs and crimes against women and minors. The series of attacks against women prompted the district administration to install the cameras, said the police.

Kasaba police that keeps a regular watch on the area under ‘Operation Idiminnal’ and other programmes, say that the number of clashes between bus employees also has come down, fearing the presence of the cameras.

“The cameras were installed at the bus stand under the initiative of the district administration last year, giving more emphasis to the safety and security of women. There were numerous complaints regarding eve teasing incidents against lone women travellers, especially those travelling at night. The cameras were installed, apart from women cops in mufti deployed in the area,” said Kasaba CI P. Pramod.

The official added that while the number of pick-pocketing complaints in a month in the area used to be 12 to 15 in a month, it had reduced to one or two in the corresponding months this year. The cops were reviewing the progress of the safety measures initiated in the city, a year after installing the CCTVs.