While incidents of violent chain snatchings made big news in 2015, according to police, chain snatchings have come down by 50 per cent this year. The cops also say that the percentage of recovery has gone up to 60 percent.

At the annual press conference of the City Police Commissioner, it was a rosy picture of a city at peace with itself. The year that saw police constables hand in glove with brokers helping Myanmar nationals staying illegally in the city, obtain passports, a group of NRIs were manhandled at the Musheerabad police station.

“It is through the support and participation of the citizens that we have been able to bring down the crime rate by 14 per cent,” Hyderabad Commissioner, M Mahender Reddy said at the annual press meet held on Monday.

He also said that the police have taken several measures like continuous tracking of property offenders, history sheeters and invoking Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act against goondas, bootleggers etc., to detain habitual offenders.

“A series of Apps were developed for public and internal use of the police force through which we focused on crime prevention and detection,” Mr. Reddy added.

The police started a mini command and control centre at every police station, SMS services, crime mapping, social and media lab this year. “Next year our priority will be to utilise technology to the maximum extent and install closed circuit cameras across the city through government and community support,” the official said adding that the police are now monitoring processions and regular activities through closed circuit cameras installed at various junctions.

To a question of instances of violations of human rights, Commissioner M Mahender Reddy said that the police work in a balanced way and sometimes such instances do occur. “We enquire into the allegations or incidents and initiate proper action against the policemen who are found guilty,” he explained.