Crime rate down, CCTV network expanded: Uttar Pradesh highlights law and order reforms since 2017

The Uttar Pradesh government has highlighted a significant improvement in the state’s law and order situation since 2017. The government said that sustained policing reforms and a zero-tolerance approach to crime have helped transform governance, public safety and investor confidence.

According to official data, the state adopted a strict “zero tolerance” policy against organised crime and mafia networks after 2017. Authorities said properties worth over Rs 14,000 crore were seized under the Gangster Act, while more than 10,000 criminals reportedly surrendered during this period.

Police records show that between March 2017 and mid-2025, law enforcement agencies carried out over 15,700 encounters, leading to the arrest of nearly 32,000 accused persons and the killing of 256 alleged hardened criminals.

The government also pointed to Operation Conviction, under which more than 1.04 lakh offenders were convicted since 2023, including 70 death sentences and close to 8,800 life terms.

The state administration also said that restoring public security and communal harmony was a key focus. It claimed that Uttar Pradesh has not witnessed major communal or religious riots since 2017, compared with 815 such incidents recorded between 2012 and 2017.

Measures aimed at women’s safety, including Mission Shakti and the Safe City Project, led to the installation of over 47,000 CCTV cameras and the creation of more than 9,000 women police beats across the state.

Crime statistics cited by the government indicate a sharp fall in serious offences compared with 2016 levels. Heinous crimes were reported to have declined by 85%, with dacoity down by 94% and robberies by 82%, reflecting an improvement in everyday safety.

The government linked these law and order changes to economic outcomes, saying improved security has helped attract investment. It said Uttar Pradesh received investment proposals worth around Rs 34 lakh crore by early 2026, as perceptions of the state shifted among domestic and global investors. Officials also said reduced criminal interference has improved transparency in welfare delivery and industrial implementation.

As part of policing reforms, the state has focused on technology and infrastructure. Emergency response times were reduced through the UP112 service, while 126 new police stations were added.

The launch of the AI-enabled YAKSH App in late 2025 aimed to support beat policing through real-time access to offender databases. Cyber police stations have been set up in all 75 districts, alongside 12 forensic science laboratories and a dedicated forensic university.

The government said these measures have made law and order a central pillar of governance, arguing that improved security has supported social stability and economic confidence as part of its broader development agenda.

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