FBI: Violent Crime Down in US in 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI says the number of violent crimes reported to law enforcement last year dropped by 4.4 percent from 2012.

The crime statistics released by the FBI on Monday also showed a longer-term decline, over the last five years, in both violent crime and property crime.

The report is based on voluntarily reported statistics from more than 18,000 law enforcement agencies. It covers crimes including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

The report says the number of violent crimes reported to law enforcement last year was roughly 1.16 million, down significantly from the 2012 estimate.

Attorney General Eric Holder called the drop in violent crime a “remarkable achievement” that’s part of a continuing trend.