Violent crime in Phila. falls 6 percent

Violent crime in Philadelphia dropped 6 percent in the first half of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009, according to data released this morning by the FBI.

The decline mirrors a nationwide trend. The number of violent crimes across the country fell 6.2 percent, according to the preliminary numbers in the Semiannual Uniform Crime Report.

Offenses categorized as violent crime include murder, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

In Philadelphia, the number of robberies reported from January to June fell 12 percent, from 4,324 to 3,784, accounting for most of the decline.

The number of murders rose from 143 to 146, up 2 percent. Forcible rapes declined from 451 to 449 or less than 1 percent. Aggravated assaults fell from 4,372 to 4,350, also less than 1 percent.

Only cities with 100,000 or more people were included in the report, so figures were not available for Camden, Chester, Trenton and Wilmington.