In a surprising turn of events, major crimes such as murder, assaults, and robberies have seen a significant decrease across New York City, with overall crime rates dropping by 16.8% in January compared to the same time last year, according to the latest NYPD statistics.
Mayor Eric Adams shared this encouraging news during his budget presentation to the state Legislature in Albany, highlighting the positive trend in public safety.
However, not all crime statistics followed suit. Reported rapes surged by an alarming 40%, rising from 106 incidents in January 2024 to 149 last month. City officials attribute this increase to a new state law implemented in September, which broadened the definition of rape to include forced oral and anal sex, alongside vaginal penetration.
Other crime categories showed promising declines as well; transit crimes fell by 36.4%, and major incidents in public housing dropped by 14.5%, according to NYPD data. This follows a particularly shocking incident last month in which an illegal immigrant allegedly set a homeless woman, Debrina Kawam, on fire in a Brooklyn subway train.
Amid challenges such as an upcoming re-election and a criminal corruption trial, Mayor Adams emphasized the importance of public safety for economic prosperity. Our comprehensive approach to combating crime is driving real progress, he stated, while noting that shootings were at their lowest for January in over three decades.
To bolster safety, the NYPD has deployed 1,200 additional officers to the subway system, including 300 dedicated to nighttime patrols as part of a joint initiative with Governor Kathy Hochul.
Commissioner Jessica Tisch commended the decline in crime rates, expressing confidence in their data-driven strategies to allocate police resources effectively. We are delivering real results, and New Yorkers can expect to see more of this approach in the future, Tisch added.
Login