De Blasio Administration Marks Safest August - November Period Since Modern Crime Statistics Began in 1993

December 2, 2014

Video is available here: https://youtu.be/HY7_ePAkwuU

NEW YORK—Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bratton today announced the city’s latest crime numbers and outlined the administration’s work this year to strengthen the relationship between police and community. For example, low-level marijuana arrests—which disproportionately affect young men of color—have decreased by 61.2 percent since the new policy launched by the de Blasio administration last month.

The Mayor and Commissioner Bratton made this announcement at Ingersoll Houses in Brooklyn—one of the facilities where the de Blasio administration invested $210 million for NYCHA anti-violence programs—where crime has decreased by 18.6 percent. Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Bratton also announced today that the NYPD body camera pilot program will begin this week, starting with the training of three commands where stop-and-frisk rates have been the highest: PSA 2, 40 Precinct, and the 120 Precinct.

“Thanks to the NYPD and the leadership of Police Commissioner Bratton, crime in New York City is at historic lows,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “But this administration doesn’t rest on its laurels—we will continue to build on our efforts to strengthen the bond between our police officers and communities they service, working to keep New York the safest big city in the nation.”

Highlights from today’s announcement include:

• Overall index crime is down 4.4 percent at the end of November.

• Homicides in New York City have decreased by 6.8 percent; robbery is down 14.4 percent; and rape is down 2.9 percent from already historically low numbers.

• The four month period of August through November has had the lowest number of shooting incidents and homicides compared to prior August through November periods since 1993.

• In the City’s housing developments, overall crime decreased by 5.3 percent and homicides fell by 7.7 percent.

• Criminal possession of marijuana decreased by 61.2 percent as of the new policy launched by the de Blasio administration last month.

• In transit, overall crime decreased by 13.8 percent, and robbery has decreased by 29 percent.