Srinagar, May 20 (IANS): Crimes in Jammu and Kashmir, including domestic violence against women, is on the decline, according to data released by state police on Wednesday.

The Crime Gazette 2014, released by state police chief K. Rajendra Kumar at a function here, said police data shows decreasing trend in crime scenario in Jammu and Kashmir during the last year in comparison to 2013.

"In 2014, 25,390 crime-related cases were registered in different police stations as against 26,907 cases during the year 2013," says the gazette, which contains firsthand information about the crime situation of the state and provides a vital data base for strategy building and designing crime containment initiatives.

The survey also shows decrease in crimes against women as 3,535 cases were registered during 2014 as against 3,714 during the previous year.

Rajendra Kumar said investigation of special crimes is a major responsibility of state police's crime branch department and the agency has to improve its working by adopting latest methods of investigation.

"Investigating agencies have to strengthen their mechanism and the civil society has also an important role in crime detection. Criminals pose a great threat to the peaceful atmosphere as the crime is a basic cause of all evils," he said.

Other senior state police officials were also present at the event.