New York Metropolis subways have seen a slight dip in crime since cops started patrolling the trains in a single day earlier this yr, information exhibits.
Crime within the system was down 7% between Jan. 20 — when the nighttime patrols started — and March 16, in comparison with the identical timeframe final yr, based on NYPD statistics.
Mayor Eric Adams touted the general discount in subway mayhem because the starting of the yr, tipping his hat to the brand new policing effort for driving down the pattern.
“In partnership with the governor, the NYPD started to place law enforcement officials on each practice throughout in a single day hours, seven days per week since January, and thanks partly to these efforts, subway crime is down 28%,” Adams advised reporters Thursday, citing information exhibiting a serious downturn between January and February in comparison with these two months in 2024.
“We’re speaking about file lows in subway crime that observe two straight years of index crime declines within the system. Two straight years,” he stated at a press convention highlighting psychological well being initiatives underground.
NYPD stats present crime on the subways was down just below 22% from Jan. 1 by means of Monday, in comparison with final yr. It was down almost 13% from 2023.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch deployed the additional cops to journey the trains with the help of Gov. Kathy Hochul, who supplied the metropolis further funds to flood the transit system from 9 p.m. to five a.m. every night time.
Straphangers advised The Submit they’ve observed the uptick in officers on the subways — however had been uncertain how productive the technique was with nowhere close to sufficient cops to cowl the tons of of practice vehicles.
“You see them patrolling the vehicles at night time, and I suppose there’s some safety in understanding they’re there,” stated 23-year-old Damerae Beckford.
“However the issue is it’s normally simply a few cops and the trains have eight vehicles, and many of the s–t you see occurs so quick that if the cops aren’t proper there at that second, it’s too late. However the metropolis can’t afford to assign a cop to every automobile, both, as a result of that might take up your entire police power.
“It’s good that they assign who they will spare,” he continued, including, “I simply don’t know if it’s that efficient.”
Joey Cruz, an Astoria businessowner who lives in Manhattan and rides the subway as late as midnight, stated he was relieved to see cops on the trains.
“I really feel higher when I see the cops, particularly once I’m on the practice at midnight,” Cruz, 61, advised The Submit from the Port Authority.
“Once I see their presence, whether or not on the practice or on the platform, it makes me really feel safer,” he added. “However I nonetheless go searching as a result of you may by no means be too cautious.
“They make a distinction simply by being there, I can see that.”
One other rider, Jayden Pugh, 26, stated he’s solely seen the patrols “sporadically.”
“I see the cops some nights, I don’t see them different nights,” he stated.
“I’m positive they’re down there if that’s what they’re assigned to do, however there’s simply so many extra subway vehicles than cops,” Pugh stated. “You may slash a man within the face and be off and operating and a cop is rarely gonna catch you until he simply occurred to be there.
“They want to determine the way to get these dangerous folks off the trains to start with. Assigning extra cops is simply placing a Band-Help on the issue.”
— Further reporting by Georgett Roberts
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