Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

Rise in violent crimes is higher than expected

WASHINGTON - The number of violent crimes rose by a larger amount than expected last year, the first significant rise in murders and robberies in a dozen years, according to an FBI report yesterday.

WASHINGTON - The number of violent crimes rose by a larger amount than expected last year, the first significant rise in murders and robberies in a dozen years, according to an FBI report yesterday.

The Uniform Crime Reporting Program shows that robberies surged by 7.2 percent and murders rose 1.8 percent from 2005 to 2006. Violent crime overall rose 1.9 percent, notably more than an increase of 1.3 percent estimated in a preliminary FBI report in June.

The increase was the second in two years, after a 2.3 percent jump in 2005. Taken together, the two years translate as the first steady increase in violent crimes since 1993.

In June, the FBI's initial report showed that Philadelphia's 406 murders last year represented a 7.7 percent increase over 2005. Among the top 10 cities, Philadelphia reported the highest violent-crime rate last year, up 5.9 percent.

Yesterday's report presents a political challenge for the Bush administration, which has faced criticism from congressional Democrats, big-city mayors and police chiefs for presiding over cuts in federal aid to local law-enforcement agencies over the last six years.

The Justice Department unveiled a proposed anticrime package this year that would set new minimum sentences and establish stronger penalties for firearms violations.

Not all types of violent crime showed an increase. The number of forcible rapes, which has been declining for years, fell 2 percent in 2006.

See the full FBI report via http://go.philly.com/fbiEndText