The number of recorded cases in Dhaka district has nearly halved in the last one year, a "success" which police attributed to a new initiative known as tele-policing.

However, a criminology professor of Dhaka University (DU) doubted their "achievement", saying police often were unwilling to register cases.

Data show that 2,683 cases were filed from January to September in 2014 but the figure dropped to 1,441 in the corresponding period this year.

Police officials said not only did the recorded crimes fall but the total law order situation had improved because of the initiative under which people can directly report a crime to police by phone.

Md Habibur Rahman, superintendent of police (SP) in Dhaka district, said tele-policing kept them close to people of different walks of life.

It is part of community policing, he said, adding that under the new initiative police arbitrated in disputes, took more preventive measures, and made quick responses to people's concerns.

"Police are directly communicating with people avoiding middleman or brokers -- we distributed visiting cards, academic calendars, class schedules where people can get the phone numbers of police high officials," he said.

They also have an easy access to police stations, he added.

The official said now people from different places informed them over the phone about the law and order situation in their areas.

In non-cognisable offences, police call both parties and settle their disputes, he said.

Early this month, Savar police mediated in a land dispute between two businessmen in Hemayetpur.

Giasuddin, a transport businessman and one of the two parties, said he had a dispute over the purchase of 11 decimals from Lal Chan Mia.

But when he went to sue Chan Mia, police took a complaint instead of a case and mediated in the dispute, saying a case would drag along for at least two years and affect both of them financially.

The SP, Habibur Rahman, said, "The most important thing about tele-policing is the trust of people; if the community people do not trust police, nothing is possible."

He said police officials were asked to earn people's trust through their activities and behaviour.

When police highlight their "success", Prof Zia Rahman, founding chairman of the criminology department at DU, said that in many countries, recorded crimes reflected the law and order situation but "we have to remember our police have the practice of refusing to register cases."

"If police are not underreporting, that is good and that is an indicator of the professional development of the force," he said. 

Drawing on his experience, an inspector of Ashulia Police Station, who wished anonymity, said police used to coax people into filing cases in the past but now if a case was lodged, police officials had to face questions from the higher authorities about whether the dispute could have been settled otherwise.

Mohammad Rasel Sheikh, senior assistant superintendent of police at Savar Model Police Station, gave an idea of how the situation improved in the area. Formerly eight teams of police used to patrol at night, which now increased to 20, he said.

He said it became possible because the fall in recorded crimes saved police much time. "It's true the number of police personnel is insufficient but the few of them are ensuring security because they do not have the pressure of case investigation in Savar Model Police Station," he said.

"Traditionally we saw police took action after the incident occurred but now we are acting before an incident happens."

For example, he said, about 300 Bede youths, who used to be involved in drug trading in Savar, were rehabilitated in driving, tailoring, and garment sectors.

Prof Zia Rahman said that in mediation police must get the consent of both parties.

In Dhaka district, there are seven police stations -- Savar, Ashulia, Dhamrai, Keraniganj, south Keraniganj, Nawabganj, and Dohar.