New York crime rates decline to lowest in decades: report

Crime rates in New York City this year sunk to their lowest level since the 1950s, according to police data.

Crimes in all major felony categories, including murder, burglary, rape and car thefts have all declined, The New York Times reported. The number of crimes in those categories totaled 94,806 as of Sunday.

There have been a total of 286 killings in the city this year.

This would mark the 27th year in a row that the city’s crime rates have declined. Last year’s record-low was 101,716 incidents. The New York Times reported Thursday that the increase in safety can partially be attributed to police using less deadly force and cutting down on stop-and-frisk practices.

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Police intentionally fired their weapons only 23 times this year, down from 37 last year, and are using stun guns more often, according to the newspaper.

Officials reported that despite lower rates of reported rapes overall, there was an increase in reports toward the end of the year, saying the #MeToo movement may have emboldened more victims to come forward. Misdemeanor sex crimes, like groping, also increased overall.

The New York data fall in line with national trends. Crime rates in cities across the nation have been steadily declining, despite President Trump’s warnings about violent crime and rising murder rates.

Trump said in his Inauguration Day address that he would work to end the “American carnage” of violent crimes, and has slammed other political leaders and candidates for not being “tough on crime.”

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner James O’Neill say the declining crime rates are a result of increased trust between communities and law enforcement, and a more targeted police strategy that focuses on gangs and repeat offenders.