Adilabad Superintendent of Police Vishnu S. Warrier on Sunday underscored the need for setting up closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in all localities and streets, especially in urban places, in order to control crime. He said the CCTV cameras are an effective deterrent for criminals as evident from the detection of crimes in the recent past in Adilabad town.

Addressing a year-end press conference, the SP talked about cordon and search operations being taken up with regularity. He said policemen on duty during such operations are interacting with residents -- which includes impressing upon them the idea of setting up CCTV cameras in respective localities.

"We solved two or three crimes owing to CCTV footage. The cameras were set up by residents after we convinced them for doing so," Mr. Warrier pointed out.

Summing up the overall crime situation in the district, the SP said there was 11% increase in the number of crimes during the year. He said this is mostly because of free registration of cases.

Talking of recent property offences, Mr. Warrier said the police is following leads and would soon solve the cases that have taken place in town within the last 10 days or so. "We will catch the culprits soon," he asserted.

"The year began amid the Adivasi-Lambada tribe turmoil and we could control it effectively," the SP pointed out. Answering a question he said the Adivasi agitation was always there but there was no violence," he added.

Regarding conduct of the Assembly election, the top police officer in the district said the biggest single seizure of cash of ₹10 crore had come here. He also spoke about the incidence of road accidents going down during the year.