NEW ORLEANS—According to the year-end Uniform Crime Report (UCR), overall persons and property crime in New Orleans dropped six percent in 2015 when compared to 2014 numbers. The numbers represent a continued downward trend in overall crime reported in New Orleans and show a significant decrease in overall crime year-to-year in 2015 compared to recent years.
View UCR numbers from 2012-2015 here
“We are working aggressively every day to reduce crime across the city and we’re using every available resource to keep New Orleans safe,” said NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison. “These numbers are encouraging, but we know we have a long way to go to make our city safe. Our officers are determined to build on this progress in 2016 and I am committed to continuing to use our resources effectively and provide our community with the police services they expect and deserve.”
This week, Chief Harrison redeployed 54 officers from administrative duties to street patrols, as part of a major redeployment effort to increase police presence and reduce violent crime in neighborhoods across the city. The department expects to move an additional 40 officers to neighborhood patrols by the end of March.
“With the additional manpower support in place, our officers will be able to respond more quickly, make important arrests and prevent crimes through proactive patrols,” said Harrison.
Overall property crimes dropped by nearly seven percent in 2015, including a double digit reduction in the number of burglaries reported. Overall crimes against persons were down slightly from 2014, with a 12 percent decrease in the number of assaults and an eight percent reduction in simple robberies.
In the final quarter of 2015, the number of murders decreased by almost 11 percent when compared to the fourth quarter of 2014. There was an eight percent reduction in assaults from fourth quarter 2015 versus the same period in 2014. Property crimes were down in 2015, with a 7.5 percent overall decrease for the final quarter of 2015 versus 2014. Burglary and auto theft were down by 16 percent and 14 percent, respectively, during the same time period.
Comparing statistics for December 2015 and December 2014, overall crime was down nearly eight percent and there was a nearly nine percent reduction in property crimes. Crimes against persons dropped more than four percent for the month.
The number of murders in the final quarter of 2015 decreased by almost 11 percent when compared to the fourth quarter of 2014, however the total number of murders recorded for the year was 164. Murder reduction remains the City’s top priority and the NOLA FOR LIFE strategy continues to focus on enforcement and prevention. Since implementing the NOLA FOR LIFE strategy, the murder rate has decreased by 18 percent by the end of 2015.
In addition to the new redeployment, 28 recruits from Class #173 will complete field training and will begin patrol on April 24. At the same time, a total of 56 recruits are in training at the NOPD Training Academy. The department is expected to graduate one recruit class and start another recruit class in this spring.
Overall crime has significantly decreased over the past several decades
Overall reported crime in New Orleans is down significantly when compared to the past several decades, dropping by double digits from its peak in 1990:
• From its peak in 1990, the number of violent crimes in New Orleans has declined by 66%. From its peak in 1990, the New Orleans violent crime rate has declined by 57%
• From its peak in 1994, the number of murders in New Orleans has declined by 65%. Since 1994, New Orleans’ murder rate has declined by 55%.
• From its peak in 1990, the number of property crimes in New Orleans has declined by 68%. Since its peak in 1990, New Orleans’ property crime rate has declined by 58%.
• From its peak in 1990, the number of TOTAL (violent & property) crimes in New Orleans has declined by 67%. Since its peak in 1990, New Orleans overall crime rate has declined by 57%.
In general, the number of crimes and crime rates has declined significantly since their peak in the early 1990s. This was a national trend. Now, murder, aggravated assault, rape, and burglary rates are all significantly lower than in the 1990s.
View historical crime trends in New Orleans between 1985-2013 here
