NYC murder rate at 466, fewest since comparable record keeping began in the 1960s, NYPD says

NYC reaches new all-time low in murders

NEW YORK — New York City finished the year with the fewest murders since comparable record keeping began.

The city’s police department says the 2009 year-end total was 466, down from 523 in 2008 and 496 the year before. It’s the fewest since comparable records were kept in the 1960s.

Overall crime is down in the city 11 percent from last year and 35 percent from 2001. The only major crime on the rise is felony assault, which was up 2 percent this year according to a city program that tracks crime statistics daily.

The figures reflect a nationwide trend. Preliminary FBI crime figures for the first half of 2009 show crime falling across the country. Murder and manslaughter fell 10 percent for the first half of the year.