The city of Coimbatore has witnessed a contrasting trend in law and order over the past year. While serious crimes saw a notable decline, providing relief to residents, a surge in narcotics-related cases has emerged as a fresh concern for the police and the public alike.
A Silver Lining: Sharp Decline in Violent Crimes
Official data from the Coimbatore City Police reveals encouraging progress in curbing violent offences. Compared to 2024, the year 2025 registered a 15% to 20% decrease in several critical crime categories. This dip includes murder, attempt to murder, rioting, and crimes against women and children, such as rape and molestation.
More impressively, the police demonstrated strong investigative capabilities in solving these grave cases. All 23 murder cases, 25 attempt to murder cases, 15 rioting cases, and 278 out of 283 assault cases reported in 2025 were solved before the year ended. The force also secured convictions in 21 murder cases, one murder for gain case, and nine attempt to murder cases.
The Persistent Challenge: Drugs and Property Crimes
However, this success story has two significant caveats. First, the city recorded a worrying increase in drug peddling. A total of 324 drug cases were reported in 2025, up from 285 in 2024. Police arrested 529 peddlers during the year. Authorities acknowledge the spike, linking it to increased enforcement and the influx of narcotics from other districts in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states.
Second, the police faced difficulties in cracking property crimes, particularly burglary and theft. The detection rate for night burglaries stood at 67% (67 out of 100 cases). For daylight house break-ins, it was 80.5% (29 of 36 cases), and for minor thefts like bike thefts, it was approximately 64% (305 of 477 cases). A senior officer cited the lack of CCTV coverage at crime spots as a major hurdle, noting that inter-district and interstate criminals often target such locations.
Police Initiatives and Recovery Efforts
Despite the challenges, the overall crime detection rate for 2025 was 69%, marking a 15% improvement over 2024. In property crimes, while valuables worth Rs 8.79 crore were stolen, police managed to recover assets worth Rs 7.35 crore, achieving a recovery rate of over 80%.
City Police Commissioner (Incharge) A Saravana Sundar credited several proactive measures for the improved control over crime. The round-the-clock beat patrol system was instrumental. Furthermore, police used stringent laws to deter habitual offenders: 173 habitual offenders were externed from the city under the Madras City Police Act, and 216 accused were detained under the Goondas Act.
The police continue to emphasise the importance of public cooperation, especially in installing CCTV cameras for security. They urge residents to safeguard their homes with proper surveillance systems to deter criminals and aid in investigation.
