2009 Crime Statistics

SNAPSHOT ANALYSIS: The citywide and precinct crime Major Crime statistics for August and September have now been posted.  Through September, there has been a citywide increase in Major Crimes of 8%, up from 7% at midyear.  Violent Crimes are up 18% compared with the same period one year ago; and Property Crimes are up 7%. The year-to-date increase in Major Crimes had stabilized in July and August, but rose slightly in September. The table below depicts reported Major Crimes by month in 2009 and compares the year-to-date totals with the same period in 2008.

ADDRESSING CRIME TRENDS: The Department will be assisted in its efforts to address these crime trends by the new officers that have been added to the force already and are now completing their training. By the beginning of summer 2009, an additional 45-50 officers will be deployed.  In addition, the Department will be hiring 80 more officers during 2009.
[Find out more about SPD staffing and Neighborhood Policing] 

Other steps being taken by the Department include adopting a task force approach to targeted crimes and crime areas and active participation in the Seattle Youth Violent Prevention Initiative taking place in the Central Area, Southeast and Southwest Seattle.  More specific response efforts are profiled on the precinct level pages.

CITYWIDE DATA:

Citywide Major Crimes(Links to XLS )

Citywide Major Crimes(Links to PDF )

CONSIDERATIONS:

The Seattle Police Department cautions against using crime and/or other police data to make decisions/comparisons regarding the safety of an area or the amount of crime.

Crime statistics represent only police services where a report was made and do not include other calls for police service.

The data do not reflect or certify "safe" or "unsafe" areas. When looking at crime statistics it is important to consider geography (business vs. residential), and major institutions that exist within the boundaries (i.e. hospitals, schools, parks, etc.) of the reporting areas.

Data will sometimes reflect where the crime was reported versus where the crime occurred.

Areas with a high volume of foot traffic or that are more densely populated may have more reported crime. This does not necessarily mean more crime occurs there, but that more crime is reported there.