FBI Data Shows N.Y. City Continues on Safety Spree

New York City continues to reduce overall crime to levels not seen in decades and remains the safest big city in America, according to officials.

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly, citing the FBI’s Preliminary Crime Report for 2005, said that the City experienced a 4.3 percent drop in overall crime last year, bringing the cumulative decrease from 2001 to 17.7 percent.

In addition, the FBI’s report shows that violent crime increased nationwide by 2.5 percent, the largest increase since 1991. In New York City, however, violent crime continued to drop, falling 1.9 percent, while property crime fell 5.1 percent in the City, compared to a national decline of 1.6 percent.

“The latest FBI report reaffirms that the fact that our police officers are doing an outstanding job in suppressing crime through Operation Impact and related strategies,” said Kelly

For 2005, the total crime index in New York City was 2680.2 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 226th between Orange, California and Edison Township, New Jersey.

Out of the nation’s 10 largest cities, New York City ranked 10th with the lowest Index Crime rate per 100,000 population. Out of the nation’s 25 largest cities, New York ranked 25th based upon Index Crime rate.

The following chart shows where New York City ranked in the Total Crime Index for the nation’s largest cities.

Rank Year End 2005 City Rate/100,000
1 Dallas 8496.1
2 Detroit 8099.1
3 Phoenix 7279.3
4 San Antonio 7205.2
5 Houston 7067.1
6 Las Vegas 5770.4
7 Philadelphia 5526.7
8 San Diego 4121.9
9 Los Angeles 3857.4
10 New York 2680.2

Source: New York Mayor’s Office, FBI