The number of custodial deaths in the country has seen a downward trend in the last three years. While in 2007-08, 2,267 people died in police custody, the number came down to 1,794 last year. This was stated in a written reply by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Ajay Maken in the Lok Sabha today. Outlining the steps taken to prevent custodial violence, the government said that a magisterial enquiry must be held in all cases of deaths which occur in the course of police action. The minister said that all states and union territories have been directed to send a six-monthly statement of all cases of deaths in police action to the National Rights Human Commission.