Crime up in U.S.

Press, 28 July 1986, Page 8

Crime up in U.S.

NZPA-Reuter Washington

Crime soared in the United States last year, led by a sharp rise in murder, rape, and other violent crimes after three years of decline, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said yesterday.

In an annual crime statistics report it said the number of crimes rose 5 per cent over 1984 and 10 per cent over 1976. But, said the F.8.1.’s director, Mr William Webster, the 1985 total was 7 per cent lower than the record high in 1981.

In all, he reported 12 million offences last year — an average of more than five crimes for every 100 Americans.

Forcible rape and aggravated assault were up throughout the nation and increases in murder were recorded in all regions except the northeast.

Detroit had the highest homicide rate in the nation — 58.2 murders for 100,000 inhabitants. For the second year in a row New York, with a murder rate of 19.3 people per 100,000, was not among

the 25 cities with the highest homicide rates. Nation-wide, violent crimes increased 4 per cent over 1984 and represented 11 per cent of all crimes, non-violent property crimes were up 5 per cent. The report said that half of all those arrested in 1985 were aged under 25.

According to the report 72 per cent of all persons arrested in 1985 were white, 27 per cent were black, and the remaining 1 per cent were other races.