The New York Crime Report shows that murders and rapes are increasing

The New York Police Department (NYPD) is celebrating a drop in crime over the past year, but at the same time the city has seen an increase in reported rapes and murders.

An NYPD statement released Nov. 7 said, “New York City marks its 10th month of dramatic crime declines as most categories show continued declines in violence and disorder.”

However, the graphic at the end of the press release tells a different story. While reports of robberies, burglaries, grand thefts and assaults have decreased since October 2023, reported rapes have increased by 30 percent, from 123 to 160, and reported murders have increased by 20.9 percent, from 24 last October to 29 in this year.

A gruesome urban murder in October 2024 occurred in the Bronx, where the New York Post reported on a man suspected of killing his own mother and stepfather before taking his own life.

This data is consistent throughout last year, as while the city saw a year-over-year decrease in murders in September, rapes rose again, from 123 in September 2023 to 170 in September 2024.

In fact, more rapes have been reported in New York City in every single month this year, with the exception of January, than the year before, even as statistics for other crimes have declined.

Rape rates in the city have not changed significantly since 2019, when 155 rapes were reported in the city in October.

Murder rates also increased in July 2024 from 38 in July 2023 to 44 in July 2024.

Newsweek the NYPD emailed for comment.

The NYPD has used a variety of tactics over the past decade to reduce its other serious crimes. Interim Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon said in the organization's November press release, “The men and women of the NYPD continually embrace new ideas and embrace new technologies aimed at reducing violence and disorder in New York City.”

“In addition to these innovative approaches, our traditional crime-fighting strategies have also proven to be highly effective, as demonstrated by the success of our proactive enforcement efforts, particularly in the transit system.”

Donlon added: “The presence of uniformed police officers on subway tracks and in train carriages has given passengers a sense of security and this is further supported by crime data. “I am deeply impressed by the unwavering dedication and determination our officers have demonstrated throughout.” Our city, day and night.

Although Donlon explained that increased police presence on subway platforms and new policing technologies make New Yorkers feel safer, not all New Yorkers feel the same.

We Deserve to Be Safe, a report on community safety written by the activist group Communities United for Police Reform (CUPR), says: “Many people who live in heavily policed ​​neighborhoods want New York to rethink what they do “Safety, how it is made and who” contributes to achieving this. They are calling for a fundamental change in the way safety is achieved in neighborhoods.

The report, which surveyed 3,300 people across all five boroughs through community-based surveys and town halls, further discusses how people in heavily policed ​​neighborhoods fear the NYPD. 70 percent of respondents said they were “afraid to call or approach the NYPD.” I am asking the NYPD for help because doing so would make the situation worse or lead to unnecessary violence.”

CUPR said New York City residents surveyed would prefer the city invest in non-police methods for community safety rather than putting more police officers on the streets or subways.

New York City has been busy in recent months with other criminal cases outside of the NYPD, most notably the charges against the city's mayor and former NYPD captain Eric Adams.

There is a corruption case underway against Adams, who still holds the mayor's office. He faces five charges, including bribery, for allegedly accepting $100,000 in travel benefits and campaign contributions from the Turkish government.

Newsweek asked Mayor Adams via email for comment.

If you are a victim of sexual assault in the New York City area, please report it to the NYPD. The NYPD Special Victims Division's 24-hour hotline is: 212-267-RAPE (7273).

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