“It is much easier to get a knife”: alert for the rise in stabbings in New York

Photo: Andrés Correa Guatarasma / Courtesy

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Stabbing cases — both homicides and injuries — have surged in New York amid a rise in serious crime across the city, According to the latest figures obtained by New York Post.

Statistics for 2022 through August 7 show that stabbings are up 11% compared to the same period last year: from 2,465 to 2,756 cases. and particularly fatal stabbings have increased 43%, from 48 to 69 homicides, during the same period, the data shows.

Although July was a negative exception, this year homicides in general have fallen 8.1%, from 284 to 261; the number of people shot fell 7.4%, from 1,101 to 1,020; and shootings 10.1%, from 938 to 843, according to data from the New York police so far in 2022. “Meanwhile, everything else is… horrible,” said Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan.

“It’s a misdemeanor. No value for human life”

Agent NYPD en Staten Island

“People aren’t afraid to carry guns, so they obviously don’t care. [portar] knives”, said an unidentified Manhattan police officer sarcastically. “Also, it is much easier to get a knife.”

A Staten Island police officer blamed a lack of serious consequences for violators. “If you get caught with a knife, even a machete, you only get a DAT [multa de comparecencia en el escritorio]the officer told the New York Post. “It’s a misdemeanor. No value for human life.”

The spike in stabbings comes amid a 36% jump in serious crimes citywide through last Sunday: grand theft was up 48.3%; auto theft 42%; and general theft 39.8%, compared to the same period in 2021.

In the specific case of vehicles, this year 7,939 have been stolen in NYC; far more than last year’s 5,589 at this point. Meanwhile, sexual violations increased 10%, from 892 to 989 cases, and criminal assaults 19.5%, from 13,086 to 15,640.

In NYC, violence continues unleashed in 2022, especially with young attackers and perpetratorsputting a great challenge to the new mayor Eric Adams, who since taking office in January has found obstacles within his own Democratic party y Black Lives Matter (BLM) leaders to face the crisis.

Specifically in July homicides experienced a 35% increase compared to the same month last year, going from 31 to 42 cases. Shooting victims and weapons incidents also rose nearly 10%.

The figures confirm the experts’ fears that New York was going to experience a spike in violence this summer, so much with firearms as white.

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