MADURAI, TAMIL NADU - In a bid to tackle the growing problem of sex crimes in Tamil Nadu, the state police have launched a new project called "Spectrum", which aims to classify and track sexual offenders based on risk. The project covers 10 southern districts, including Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, and Kanyakumari.

According to officials, around 15,000 people booked in sexual offence cases have been mapped under the Spectrum system. Offenders are placed into eight colour-coded categories based on their risk level:

  • Red: gang rape accused, serial rapists, repeat Pocso offenders, and those seen as a threat
  • Orange: repeat molesters, stalkers, and habitual harassers
  • Blue: cyber offenders, including online groomers, sextortionists, and cyberstalkers

The project also involves recording biometrics of accused individuals through the measurement capturing unit (MCU), which includes fingerprints, iris scans, palm prints, height, and high-resolution photographs.

Police officials say that repeat offenders will be tracked closely, with some cases involving invoking Section 126 of BNSS to make high-risk offenders execute bonds. The project also aims to get convictions in previous cases and cancel bails soon.

The Spectrum system is part of a broader effort by the Tamil Nadu police to tackle sex crimes, which have been on the rise in recent years. According to officials, around 1,500-2,000 such cases are registered every year, many involving relationships or marriages with consent.

**Background**

Sex crimes have become an increasing concern in India, particularly in southern states like Tamil Nadu. The state police have launched several initiatives to tackle this issue, including the Spectrum project. While some critics argue that the system may be too broad and could lead to false positives, officials say it is a necessary step towards ensuring public safety.

The Indian government has also taken steps to strengthen laws against sex crimes, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. However, experts say more needs to be done to address the root causes of these crimes and provide adequate support to victims.

In related news, a similar project is being implemented in other states across India, with varying degrees of success.