Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced that crime rates in New York City continued to fall in 2025, maintaining the city’s status as the safest large city in the United States. The announcement was made following the release of new data from the NYPD, which showed declines in murders, retail theft, robberies, and subway crime.
“When I became Governor, I made keeping New Yorkers safe my top priority and tackled crime head-on in New York City and across the state. Since then, I have made unprecedented investments in police and public safety – more than $3 billion – to make New York’s neighborhoods and subways safer,” said Governor Hochul. “Our aggressive approach is paying off: crime has fallen to record lows, making New York a safer place to live, work and visit. I look forward to continuing this work with Mayor Mamdani, Police Commissioner Tisch and the brave men and women of law enforcement who sacrifice so much to ensure New York remains the safest big city in the country.”
Mayor Mamdani commented on the city’s progress: “Last year, New York City had its safest year for gun violence ever. This achievement—among many others—is a testament to the leadership of Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the dedication of the NYPD, and the tireless work of community-based organizations that help keep our neighborhoods safe. This work, however, is not done. Together with Police Commissioner Tisch and Governor Kathy Hochul, we will continue to drive down crime—addressing the needs of New Yorkers and working with our officers to deliver public safety.”
Commissioner Tisch added: “These historic reductions in crime did not happen by chance or accident — they are the direct product of a deliberate, data-driven strategy achieving unprecedented public safety milestones for New York City. The NYPD drove shooting incidents and shooting victims to the lowest levels in recorded history and delivered the safest year on our subway system, outside of the pandemic era, since 2009. These numbers describe an agency that’s firing on all cylinders: taking down violent gangs, removing thousands of guns off the street, and shattering record-low violent crime numbers. New York City is still the safest big city in the country, thanks to the extraordinary work of the women and men of the NYPD who answer the call every day to protect and serve.”
In 2025, there were 688 shooting incidents reported in New York City—a 24 percent decrease compared to 2024—and a record low since 2018. December saw only 35 shooting incidents citywide—the lowest monthly figure ever recorded. For comparison with other major cities during this period: Chicago experienced over 1,400 shootings despite having one-third of NYC’s population; Philadelphia had more than 825 shootings with less than one-fifth NYC’s population.
The number of people shot also fell by five percent from previous lows set in 2018; compared with last year there were 22 percent fewer victims (856 vs. 1,103). All five boroughs contributed to these reductions; Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island posted their lowest number of shootings on record.
Efforts by police included seizing over 5,293 illegal firearms last year along with conducting seventy gang-related takedowns aimed at removing dangerous individuals from communities.
Major crimes also declined three percent citywide (121,542 vs. 125,026) due partly to increased officer deployment at high-crime areas including precincts as well as subways.
Murders dropped by over twenty percent (305 vs. 382), while robbery fell nearly ten percent (15,065 vs.16,696). Burglary decreased almost four percent for a third consecutive annual decline; auto theft dropped five percent; grand larceny fell nearly two percent.
Hate crimes decreased twelve percent from last year (576 vs.657), though antisemitic incidents remained most common among hate crimes reported.
Rape cases increased sixteen percent following legislative changes broadening legal definitions effective September 2024; domestic-violence-related rapes rose twenty-five percent now accounting for about half such reports citywide. To address this trend NYPD launched a Domestic Violence Unit—the largest nationally—with four hundred fifty investigators focused on prevention training survivor outreach investigation.
Felony assaults edged up slightly overall but dropped during December versus prior-year figures; increases were attributed mainly to more assaults against public sector employees—including police—and domestic violence cases which comprised forty-one percent felony assault totals.
On public transit systems major subway crime declined four percent compared with last year—making it statistically safest since 2009 excluding pandemic years—with significant decreases noted for robberies pickpocketing murders shootings injuries underground operations bolstered by strategic redeployment enhanced funding drone usage incident response rescue efforts.
A recent MTA poll indicated that seventy percent subway riders felt safe using transit—a twelve-point increase since early-2025—while drones enabled rapid responses leading to fewer subway surfing events.
Retail theft fell fourteen percent after NYPD implemented revised tactics targeting repeat offenders through pattern identification resource concentration investigative focus rather than simple enforcement sweeps.
