Data published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) last week provoked headlines that declared Delhi as India’s “rape capital” and Kerala as its “crime capital”. International data on crime show that countries with the best systems of law and order also have high crime rates, while countries with dysfunctional governments mostly show low crime rates. Read | Reason for 34 per cent ‘drop’ in crimes: NCRB’s data collection correctionThe civil society response to crime data often dictates the government response. Uttar Pradesh — which, NCRB data show, has a suspiciously low crime rate — has been notorious on this count. Developed countries have attempted to bring data from such crime victimisation surveys on a par with registered crime data.

Source: Indian Express December 05, 2017 20:01 UTC