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Statistics

For years, the traditional focus of law enforcement had been to respond to crimes that had already been committed. In the early 1990s, the NYPD pioneered a new approach—one which centered on data-driven performance measurements. As the focus of policing shifted towards crime prevention, quality of life improvement, and resource and personnel management, the city saw crime numbers drop significantly.

Reporting, statistical analysis, and information-sharing are central components of modern-day policing. The NYPD has been at the forefront of these developments. In 1994, CompStat, which stands for "comparison statistics," was launched. It allowed officials to track data block-by-block in near-real time, providing greater levels of accountability, focus, and follow-up than ever before. The NYPD tracks a considerable body of crime, traffic, and employee data and makes much of it available to the public. This data supports efficient, targeted policing across the city for all residents and visitors.

Throughout the year the NYPD produces analyses of crime trends, traffic data, and a wide range of reports and publications, all of which are updated on a regular basis. As we continue to ensure transparency and accountability, we invite you to explore this section further and to check back in the future.