New York City continued to see significant improvements in public safety in May, according to figures released by the New York Police Department (NYPD). The latest statistics reveal notable reductions in major crime categories, including murders and shootings, while hate crime incidents moved in the opposite direction.

Citywide, major crime fell by 10.6% compared with May of last year. This translates to approximately 1,147 fewer reported offenses during the month, highlighting a continuing downward trend in serious criminal activity across the five boroughs.

One of the most significant developments is the decline in homicides. During the first five months of the year, murders dropped by nearly 21%, marking the lowest level recorded for this period since the NYPD began tracking the data.

Gun violence also continued to decrease. Authorities reported 247 shooting incidents between January and May, representing a reduction of almost 6% compared with the same period last year. The number of shooting victims also declined by more than 7%, setting a new record and surpassing the previous low reached in 2024.

Police officials credit these improvements to targeted law enforcement strategies focused on removing illegal firearms from the streets and disrupting gang-related activity. Since the beginning of the year, investigators have conducted 20 gang enforcement operations and recovered close to 2,000 weapons.

As warmer weather approaches—a season traditionally associated with increased criminal activity—the NYPD has introduced its Summer Violence Reduction Plan. The initiative includes deploying approximately 3,800 officers for nighttime foot patrols in 72 high-crime areas across 40 precincts.

The city also had its safest Memorial Day weekend ever. During the four-day holiday period, only three shooting incidents were recorded, resulting in four victims. Compared with May 2024, New York reported two fewer shootings and 22 fewer shooting victims.

Additional crime categories also showed improvement. Vehicle thefts and offenses within the subway system both declined during May. However, felony assaults increased slightly, rising by 0.4%.

According to the NYPD, the long-term rise in felony assault cases has largely been linked to domestic violence incidents, attacks on police officers, and assaults involving other public-sector employees.

Public transportation safety remains another area of progress. After recording its safest year since 2009 in 2024—excluding the pandemic period—the subway system continued to improve. Major crime in the transit network was down by more than 1% year to date and by 6.5% in May alone.

Despite the positive overall crime trends, hate crimes increased significantly. Reported hate crime incidents rose by 74.4% compared with May of the previous year.

Authorities noted that Jewish residents were the primary targets in a majority of confirmed hate crime cases. Approximately 60% of these incidents involved antisemitic motives, even though Jewish New Yorkers represent around 10% of the city's population.

The latest figures present a mixed picture for New York City: while violent crime and gun-related offenses continue to reach historic lows, the sharp increase in hate crimes remains a serious concern for law enforcement and community leaders alike.