NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday stressed the need for stronger measures to prevent crimes against women in Delhi, saying authorities must create an environment where women feel safe while walking on the streets or travelling by public transport.A bench led by Justice JB Pardiwala was hearing a suo motu case initiated by the court over recent rape cases and other crimes against women in Delhi-NCR."There appears to be a feeling that women are not safe in city particularly in some vulnerable pockets," the court observed, flagging concerns over the safety of women in certain parts of the national capital.The bench told the Centre and Delhi Police that the focus should be on preventing crimes rather than dealing with them after they have occurred."We must ensure every woman in NCT Delhi feels safe, whether walking at 10 PM or travelling by metro or road," the court said.The Supreme Court also said deficiencies in the system should not create conditions that allow crimes to take place."Deficiencies, if any, should not facilitate commission of crime," the court said."What is important is to prevent crime, not what you do after crime is committed," it observed.

The court also stressed the need to create a strong deterrent for those who may be inclined to commit such offences.“Unless you don’t create such fright in the minds if the criminals ki ab kuch kiya toh mar jayengey (if we commit such a crime we will die) you will not be able to prevent such crimes”, Justice JB Pardiwala said.

“You need to create a fright, a fear in the mind of a man who is prone to commit such officers”, the judge said.The Supreme Court told Delhi Police that it should take a firm approach against those accused of committing serious crimes against women, while also referring to concerns that could be raised under Article 21, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty.The court said authorities should not be deterred from taking strict action against those accused of rape and other serious offences because of criticism from human rights groups.