BERKELEY -- Crime is up in most categories in Berkeley, part of a trend both in the Bay Area and nationwide, says Police Chief Michael Meehan, who will deliver a midyear 2015 crime report to start off a busy evening of City Council business Sept. 15.
Meehan's presentation is the subject of a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the Old City Hall, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way.
According to Meehan's midyear report, the incidence of most crimes was up in the first six months of 2015 over the same period in 2014. "Part One" crimes -- homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, auto theft and arson -- rose 23 percent overall. The only category not to see an increase was homicide, which went from one in the first six months of 2014 to zero in the first six months of this year.
Reported rapes rose from 14 in the first six months of 2014 to 17 in the same period this year. In his report, Meehan notes nationwide increases in reported sexual assault statistics that he says are related to a revised definition of sexual assault by the FBI.
Robberies increased by 53 percent in the period, from 108 in the first half of 2014 to 165 the first half of this year. But both totals were substantially less than the same period in 2013, when there were 221 robberies.
Both violent crimes and property crimes are up this year, after dropping considerably from 2013 to 2014, with aggravated assault showing the largest percentage increase.
"Last year was our best year in 50 years," Meehan said this week, adding that Berkeley's decline in 2014 mirrored national figures.
He said there is no consensus among experts as to what is behind the recent uptick in crime after years of decline. The patterns are inconsistent, and no one factor -- he cited the economy, jobs, drug and alcohol abuse, technology, demographics and policing strategies -- can explain the increase, although all have some effect on crime incidence, he said.
The regular council meeting at 7 p.m. contains more than 50 consent items.
New business includes a proposed tobacco sale buffer zone around schools and parks; possible minimum wage ordinance revisions and amendments; a fair elections and public campaign financing ballot measure; and a resolution supporting efforts to stop sexual harassment at Berkeley High School.
Old business includes proposed retail incentives in commercial districts and a proposal to reinstate the practice of inviting community agencies to make presentations to city commissions during the funding allocation process.
Also on the agenda are more than a half-dozen information reports, on code enforcement, construction permits, bike sharing, the Community Environmental Advisory Commission work plan, a midyear update from the Energy Commission, a report from the Alameda County Transportation Commission, and recommendations by the Police Review Commission to change Berkeley Police Department procedures related to suspicious activity reporting and the department's relationship with the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center. ,,Source.. by Tom Lochner
No comments:
Post a Comment