Data show drop in overall crime

Boston Police released preliminary statistics this week that suggest a significant decline— 19 percent— in so-called ‘Part One’ crime in the city of Boston this year compared to the same time frame in 2020. The drop in crime categories includes three fewer homicides (through June 13) and an even bigger drop in robberies and aggravated assaults.

The B-3 district, which includes parts of Dorchester and Mattapan, is on pace for a 35 percent drop in the ten categories that are included in the tracking grid. District C-11, which encompasses much of Dorchester east of Washington Street, posted a 29 percent decline, but has seen a small uptick in non-domestic aggravated assaults with six additional incidents reported in ’21 compared to last year. District B-2, which includes another significant chunk of Dorchester along with most of Roxbury, is down 21 percent.

Also down so far this year are citywide shootings — both fatal and non-fatal. The BPD says that there have been 77 individuals struck by bullets in Boston this year so far, as opposed to 95 in 2020. That represents an 18-point drop year-to-year.

•••

The pace of firearm arrests, however, has increased from 213 last year to 271 in 2021. One case in point: On Sat., June 12, Boston Police arrested two men at a home on East Street, including one who was charged with illegal gun possession. The other man was charged with assaulting the C-11 sergeant who reported seeing one of two men trying to conceal the weapon— a 9mm handgun.


Subscribe to the Dorchester Reporter