Patna: Newly appointed director-general of police (DGP) K.S. Dwivedi on Monday said crime figures in the state are lower than in other states and the national average. He said the government has set every police station a target of nabbing at least one criminal a day to streamline policing.

Dwivedi was taking to journalists for the first time after his appointment in the first week of March. "If police stations nab at least one criminal a day then 365 criminals will be arrested every year," Dwivedi said. "That will help check crime. Also, local criminals will fear the police."

Highlighting his priorities, he said: "I've asked police stations to delegate the duty of monitoring criminal activities of those out on bail to a particular officer."

The DGP also said that for junior rank police officers, the government, along with the CID and the home department, is going to carry out a five-day training session where they will learn the nitty-gritty of investigation. The training session will be held at the Bihar Military Police (BMP) centre from April 2.

Dwivedi said all police stations will have complaint boxes for residents. These will be opened under CCTV surveillance and complaints monitored by a senior police officer.

Dwivedi was accompanied by principal secretary (home) Amir Subhani at the conference.

The DGP also gave figures about drop in crime rate. He said according to National Crime Records Bureau, average national rate of total cognizable crime per lakh population in Bihar is 157.4 while the national rate was 233.6 in 2016.

Bihar stands 22nd position in total cognizable offence. Similarly, in 2016, total cognizable murder per lakh population in Bihar was 2.5 while the national average was 2.4.

DGP said that in 2017, 2,22, 816 persons were arrested on charges of different crime while 2623 arms and ammunitions were seized. The DGP highlighted various cases which the police have solved.