MADURAI: The State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) data available since 2008 has been removed from the Tamil Nadu police website.
Though the SCRB officials have not given any reason for the removal from the website, sources in the Police Department claimed that recent media reports used the data to point out that the crime rate in the state was turning out to be a matter of concern. Using the data, the media houses have reported that the rape cases, particularly those involving minors, have seen an increase of around 22 per cent between 2013 and 2014. A few other reports armed with the data pointed out to the increase in different types crimes and also the significantly high number of vacancies in the department.
Apart from the month-wise data available since 2008, the police have also removed the quarterly Tamil Nadu Police Statistical Handbook that provided details about the strength, police stations and equipment available with the police. Both the data were earlier available under ‘publications’ link of the home page of the website (http://www.tnpolice.gov.in/home.html).
Commenting on this, a senior official from the SCRB said their computer servers were under maintenance and the data had only been removed temporarily.
However, the explanation seemed unconvincing as only the hyperlinks available under the ‘publication’ has been taken out and the SCRB monthly data was still available if one accessed the direct URL (www.tnpolice.gov.in/sbulletin.html). Also, the data earlier available was only consolidated ‘pdf’ files and not through direct access to any of their servers.
Though TN did not have a dedicated site accessible to public for SCRB, it was one among the few states making crime data available every month with more details than the annual NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) that used to give details about all the states.