Via Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
Despite an eight percent overall decrease in crime for the entire region, in the District, crime increased in 2014, according to data released earlier this week.
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ annual report on crime and crime control showed an eight percent increase in crime in D.C. proper last year. There were 105 homicides in 2014, compared to 104 the previous year. Meanwhile reports of rape increased by 20 percent—from 393 to 470 reported cases, which is a slight decrease from last year.
Reports of aggravated assaults, larceny, and motor vehicle thefts all increased, by 7 percent, 13 percent, and 18 percent, respectively. However, the report found that robbery and burglary in the District both decreased in 2014, by 18 percent and 5 percent, respectively.
Overall, the D.C. region has seen a steady 8.2 percent decrease in crime since 2010, despite a spike in crime in D.C. proper. That can be attributed to significant decrease in crime in the communities surrounding D.C. in Maryland and Virginia. As the report says, environmental influences affect crime statics and trends
“Crime statistics should be viewed in context with environmental influences,” the report says “Factors such as changes in legislation, reporting requirements, demographics, the economy, and/or changes in police policies and resources may influence the number of crimes reported in any jurisdiction. It is also important to consider crime trends over multiple years.”
Also significant in the report is an entire chapter dedicated to how local police forces are working to improve the relationship with their respective communities after a year of numerous, high-profile police-involved deaths.
“Trust between law enforcement and the people they protect and serve is essential to the
stability of our communities and the safe and effective delivery of policing services,” the report says. “Law enforcement agencies in the metropolitan Washington region serve a large and diverse population, and have already built many good relationships around these pillars and experienced successes on many fronts.”
You can read the full report below:
