The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) Report 2023 has named Kolkata once again as the safest city in India, retaining the top position for the fourth consecutive year.
As per the report, Kolkata registered 83.9 cognisable offences per lakh population, the lowest among 19 major cities with populations exceeding 20 lakh. The NCRB highlighted the efficient use of technology, as well as the strategic and skilful policing by senior officers, as key factors behind the city’s continued success in maintaining law and order.
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim also lauded the achievement while criticising the law and order situations in Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states.
“BJP-ruled cities and states continue to struggle! Kochi stands highest in crime rate among large cities, followed by Delhi and Surat. Is this what they call effective law and order?” he wrote on X. He credited Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s leadership, the Kolkata Police’s proactive measures, night-patrolling systems, and citizen cooperation for the city’s sustained improvement.
The NCRB data also revealed that Kochi, Kerala, recorded the highest crime rate in the country at 3,192.4 per lakh population, followed by Delhi with 2,105.3 and Surat with 1,377.1. According to the data, after Kolkata, the cities with the next lowest crime rates were Hyderabad (332.3), Pune (337.1), and Mumbai (355.4). The average crime rate across the 19 major Indian cities stood at 828 in 2023.
“Kolkata’s crime rate has continued to decline over the years. In 2022, the rate stood at 86.5, while in 2021 it was 103.5. Back in 2016, the figure was as high as 159.6, indicating a steady and consistent improvement under the present administration,” said Rupesh Kumar, joint commissioner of police (crime).
The city has also shown encouraging progress in curbing crimes against women. In 2023, a total of 1,746 crimes against women were recorded in Kolkata, giving the city a violence rate of 25.7 per lakh women— the third lowest in the country after Chennai (17.3) and Coimbatore (22.7). There were 10 reported cases of rape of adults, and 33 cases of sexual harassment of minors during the year. The city ranked 10th among 19 cities in crimes against women.
State Industries and Women & Child Welfare Minister Shashi Panja said the report validates what the state has always claimed. “The NCRB data shows that our belief was correct — Kolkata is indeed the safest city in the country. This report has silenced the opposition. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that there will be no compromise with crime,” she stated.
With its crime rate declining year after year, Kolkata continues to stand out as an example of effective governance, modern policing, and community cooperation — reaffirming its position as India’s safest metropolis.
Also read: Amid polarisation, Kolkata celebrates togetherness
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