Uttar Pradesh Sees Major Improvement in Law and Order, Crime Down Sharply Since 2017

Lucknow | January 28, 2026 The Uttar Pradesh government has highlighted a remarkable improvement in the state’s law and order situation since 2017, attributing the changes to sustained policing reforms and a “zero-tolerance” approach to crime. Officials said that these measures have strengthened public safety, enhanced governance, and boosted investor confidence across the state. According to official data, the state adopted strict measures against organized crime and mafia networks after 2017. Authorities said that properties worth over Rs 14,000 crore were seized under the Gangster Act, while more than 10,000 criminals surrendered during this period. Police records indicate that between March 2017 and mid-2025, over 15,700 encounters were conducted, resulting in the arrest of nearly 32,000 accused persons and the elimination 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 almost 70 death sentences and around 8,800 life terms. Safety initiatives such as 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, significantly improving security, especially for women. Officials noted that the state has not seen major communal or religious riots since 2017, compared to around 815 incidents reported between 2012 and 2017. Crime statistics indicate a sharp decline in serious offences, with heinous crimes down by 85%, dacoity by 94%, and robberies by 82% compared with 2016 levels. The government said that improved law and order has also contributed to economic growth, with investment proposals worth around Rs 34 lakh crore received by early 2026. The adoption of technology, such as the AI-enabled YAKSH App, 126 new police stations, cyber police stations in all 75 districts, 12 forensic laboratories, and a dedicated forensic university, has further strengthened policing and ensured faster emergency response through the UP112 service. Officials said that law and order has now become a central pillar of governance, supporting social stability and economic confidence across the state. Uttar Pradesh Records Big Drop in Crime, Law and Order Improves Since 2017 The Uttar Pradesh government has highlighted a significant improvement in law and order in the state since 2017, saying strict policing reforms and a “zero-tolerance” approach to crime have strengthened public safety, governance, and investor confidence. Officials stated that these efforts have transformed the way crime is handled and improved overall social stability. Authorities said that after 2017, the state took a strict stance against organized crime and mafia networks. Properties worth over Rs 14,000 crore were seized under the Gangster Act, and more than 10,000 criminals surrendered during this period. Police records show that between March 2017 and mid-2025, over 15,700 encounters were carried out, leading to nearly 32,000 arrests and the killing of 256 alleged hardened criminals. The government also highlighted Operation Conviction, which led to the conviction of over 1.04 lakh offenders since 2023, including nearly 70 death sentences and nearly 8,800 life terms. Safety initiatives like Mission Shakti and the Safe City Project have installed more than 47,000 CCTV cameras and created over 9,000 women police beats. Officials noted that the state has not experienced major communal or religious riots since 2017, compared to 815 incidents between 2012 and 2017. Crime figures show serious offences have fallen sharply, with heinous crimes down 85%, dacoity down 94%, and robberies down 82% from 2016 levels. The government said improved law and order has boosted investment, with proposals worth around Rs 34 lakh crore received by early 2026. Use of technology, including the AI-based YAKSH App, 126 new police stations, cyber police stations in all districts, 12 forensic labs, and a forensic university, along with faster emergency responses through UP112, has strengthened policing. Officials stated, “law and order has now become a central pillar of governance,” supporting both safety and economic growth.