US violent crimes decline in 2007

Violent crime fell in the US last year after rising for two years, according to FBI figures which the Justice Department attributed to better policing against violent gangs and drug dealers.

The FBI said the rate of violent crimes per 100,000 population dropped by 0.7 per cent in 2007 to 466.9, with declines in all major categories including murder, rape and robbery.

The total number of violent crimes reported also declined, to 1.41 million from 1.42 million, after rising for two years.

"This is a credit to our state and local law enforcement partners, who are working in coordination with federal law enforcement to break-up violent gangs and to take drug dealers and gun criminals off the streets," Justice Department spokesman Peter Carr said.

Violent crimes had fallen steadily from 1991 to 2005 due to what experts described as better enforcement, economic prosperity and declines in high-risk populations of young adults. The report said the number of murders fell 0.6 per cent to 16,929 in 2007, while rapes fell 2.5 per cent to 90,427 and robberies fell 0.5 per cent, to 445,125.

Overall property crimes such as auto theft and burglaries also fell in 2007 to 9.84 million from 9.98 million, the FBI said. It said motor-vehicle thefts fell 8.1 per cent from 2006, to 1.095 million.