The World Crime Index, 2019, is out. Among the 319 big cities rated in the index, no Pakistani city is among top 100. Lahore, Islamabad and Karachi are placed 138th, 226th and 232nd, respectively, in terms of prevalence of crime. A comparison with last year’s index is instructive. Compared to 2018, Lahore has moved 36 places – from 174th to 138th. Karachi and Islamabad have moved 11 and six notches, showing a relatively slight improvement in crime control. None of them is anywhere near Lahore. The report says Abu Dhabi is the safest city in the world and Caracas the most dangerous. There are several points here for law enforcement authorities to ponder. First, Lahore police are apparently on to something that works. It cannot be a mere coincidence that the safest big city in the country has become safer. Police in Karachi and Islamabad, too, can take heart from the improvement in their crime rates. Given the substantial improvement, Lahore police need to do more of what they have been doing recently and Islamabad and Karachi need to take a leaf from its book. Reports suggest the recent trend in Lahore police is a greater investment in data analysis. Using the crime data the city has been divided into A, B and C areas and crime control strategies in each of these are designed according to type of crime. This has helped the department allocate more resources to ‘hot’ areas than relative peaceful ones. Patrolling beats are regularly reviewed based on the crime mapping. The city also has dedicated squads to tackle street crime. Installation of surveillance cameras under the Punjab Safe City Authority has also helped. The report is a reminder to law enforcers that crime control is a serious matter requiring resources, strategy and commitment. For nearly a decade, police in big Pakistani cities had to prioritize the prevention of terrorism and militancy over crime control. As the threat of terrorism recedes, it is time to turn our attention to fighting other crimes. Policing has come a long way in the recent years. In many areas, the Police Department as well as other law enforcement agencies have witnessed a transition from manual records to information technology. In too many areas, however, the reliance is still on gut feeling and traditional techniques, including torture and illegal custody. A frequent complaint is about poor prosecution. *