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June 9, 2008 By News Report
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly today announced that New York City remains the safest big city in America, according to the FBI's preliminary Uniform Crime Report for 2007. The report shows that, compared to 2006, the City experienced a 2.7 percent drop in overall crime last year. Murders in New York City declined 16.8 percent, while they fell 2.7 percent nationwide. In addition, the FBI's report shows that violent crime in the city decreased 3.1 percent last year, outpacing a national drop of 1.4 percent.
"New York City had fewer than 500 murders last year -- the lowest number since comparable records have been kept -- and there were over 1,100 fewer guns recovered from city streets last year compared to the year before," said Mayor Bloomberg. "The numbers continue to go in the right direction, and it's because of the impressive efforts of the men and women of the NYPD, as well as our innovative policing strategies and efforts to keep illegal guns out of the hands of criminals."
"The men and women of the Police Department have continued to make the city safe, often while putting their lives at risk," said Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly.
"The FBI's Uniform Crime Report is further proof that our crime fighting strategies are keeping New York City ahead of the curve," said John Feinblatt, the mayor's criminal justice coordinator. "Whether it's working to take illegal guns off the street or reduce domestic violence, we are always searching for new ways to keep New Yorkers safer. We didn't become the safest big city in the country by being passive, and we will continue to pair data with innovative ideas in order to keep cutting crime to historic levels."
For 2007, the total crime index in New York City was 2,432.3 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 230th between Santa Clarita, California and Rancho Cucamonga, California. Out of the nation's 10 largest cities, New York City had the lowest Index Crime rate. Out of the nation's 25 largest cities, New York ranked safest, scoring the lowest.
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The first page of the Uniform Crime Report published by the FBI states that it is inappropriate to use the statistics to compare cities, counties, or states with each other. This is because of a variety of factors, including differences in reporting criteria. Unless there is an actual study (rather than a simple collection of self-reported crime data) done that looks at a number of factors, it is inappropriate to make statements that one place is safer than another. It is also important to realize that a particular crime value does not mean a jurisdiction is "safe", as safety involves a lot more variables than just the number of Type 1 and Type 2 crimes.
Although I grew up in NYC, I have not lived in the city since 1973. I have lived in several large cities, and several rural areas. There is no doubt in my mind, regardless of statistics, etc. that NYC is and has been one of the safest cities, small or large, for several decades.