New York City experienced a remarkable decline in homicides during the first half of this year, achieving its lowest count amidst a widespread decrease in serious crimes across the city. Recent NYPD statistics highlight this trend.
By the end of June, there were 122 murders across the five boroughs, reflecting a nearly 25% drop from 162 during the same timeframe last year and falling below the previous record of 136 set in 2017.
Despite the influx of visitors to the city for events like the Knicks’ championship parade, FIFA World Cup matches, and the America 250 celebrations, incidents of shootings, traffic-related crimes, and robberies have also decreased, contributing to nearly a 6% overall drop in serious crime this year.
“These results would be significant in any year,” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated to the press. “But they are particularly notable now as New York City enters its busiest season, posing unique challenges for the NYPD as it manages some of the largest events in the country.”
She continued, “Even with everything happening simultaneously and New York back on the global map, this department is still making strides against serious crime.”
However, it’s worth noting that the rise in rape and hate crimes remains a troubling aspect, with statistics indicating that over half of these incidents are classified as anti-Semitic.
Nonetheless, the overall crime landscape appears encouraging.
By the end of June, the number of reported shootings reached 322, surpassing the previous low of 337 in 2018 and 2025, with gunshot victims numbered at 381, breaking another previous record of 387 from last year.
It’s interesting to consider that shooting incidents are now less than half of what they were five years ago, a time when crime rates surged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other major categories of crime also showed significant declines, with robberies falling nearly 16% to 5,354 in the first half of 2026 compared to 6,359 in the same period last year. This marks a decrease from 7,248 in the previous year.
This year has also seen improved safety for public housing residents, with 2,659 serious crimes reported across housing authority sites, a 9% drop compared to 2,905 during the same time last year.
Notably, the Bronx, which has historically faced challenges, is now leading the city in crime reduction, reporting 13,434 crimes through June 30—an overall decrease of 12% from 15,208 in the same month last year.
The strategic changes implemented by Tisch, including the division of the Bronx into two patrol sectors and the addition of 200 officers, emphasize a proactive approach to policing in the area.
However, it’s not all positive news. Rape incidents have seen a contrary trend, with 1,066 reported from January through June, which is nearly a 6% increase from 1,008 during the same period last year.
While this rise is concerning, Tisch noted that it may be partially attributed to a change in state law in September 2024, which broadened the definition of rape, alongside a continued trend of underreporting by victims.
Hate crimes represent another persistent issue, with police reporting 322 incidents thus far this year, up from 299 last year; anti-Semitic incidents make up a significant portion of these reports.
“Jewish residents constitute only 10% of our city’s population, yet anti-Semitic hate crimes account for 55% of all confirmed hate crimes,” remarked Mayor Zoran Mamdani.
The mayor emphasized the city’s commitment to combatting hate, noting that in the latest budget, funding for hate crime prevention was increased by over 800% to fulfill campaign promises.
