Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly today announced that the nationwide decline in murders recorded by the FBI’s Crime in the United States 2007, formerly the Uniform Crime Report, is almost entirely due to the decrease in murders in New York City. New York City, with a population of 8.2 million, had fewer than 500 murders in 2007 – the lowest number of murders since comparable records began being kept more than 40 years ago. The Mayor has led a three-year campaign against illegal guns involving tougher enforcement, strict new legislation and innovative litigation; according to the ATF there were over 1,100 fewer guns recovered from City streets last year compared to the year before. According to data in the FBI report, New York City remains the safest big city in America.

“Without the 17 percent decline in murders in New York City, murder nationwide would have been flat, not down,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “Our success is due to the innovative programs and policies we have put in place, such as our sustained campaign to rid our streets of illegal guns, and to the extraordinary dedication of the brave men and women of the NYPD. We are grateful for their efforts, and proud that they continue to make New York City a national leader in public safety.”

“The scale of crime prevention by the men and women of the NYPD was such that it drove down the national murder rate last year,” said Commissioner Kelly. “It coincided with continued advances in crime fighting, counter terrorism and quality of life enforcement made possible by the professionalism of our police officers.”

“New York City has coupled innovative law enforcement strategies with dogged old-fashioned police work,” said John Feinblatt, the Mayor’s Criminal Justice Coordinator. “We will continue to develop innovative ways to keep New Yorkers safe.”

The City’s decrease of 1,724 robberies in 2007 accounts for 75.7 percent of the national decline of 2,278 robberies in 2007. The City’s decrease of 100 murders in 2007 accounts for 99 percent of the national decline of 101 murders. Major felony crime in New York City fell 2.7 percent last year, the sixteenth consecutive year crime has declined.

For 2007, the total crime index in New York City was 2,432.3 crimes per 100,000 people.  Out of the 245 cities with a population of 100,000 or more that reported to the FBI, New York City ranked 230th between Santa Clarita, California and Rancho Cucamonga, California.  Out of the nation’s 10 largest cities, New York City had the lowest Index Crime rate. Out of the nation’s 25 largest cities, New York ranked safest, scoring the lowest.

(Dov Gordon – YWN)