San Francisco reports lowest crime rate in more than 20 years

SF Mayor Breed touts lower crime rate in final full day in office

San Francisco Mayor London Breed touts a crime rate at a more than 20 year low as she prepares to leave office.

SAN FRANCISCO - San Francisco's outgoing mayor is touting a drop in crime on her last full day in office. As the city prepares to transition from one mayor to another, crime is front and center.

The latest data shows crime is on the decline in San Francisco. The mayor and chief of police said property crime is down 31% from 2023, and violent crime is down 14%.

On her final full day in office, Mayor London Breed said it's the result of hard work on several fronts. The mayor said a strong district attorney, new state and local laws and the adoption of new technology, have all contributed to the lowest crime rate since 2001.

"We have what we need to be a successful city and I feel strongly and proud that I laid the groundwork for what happened in 2024," said Mayor Breed. "It's only going to get better."

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a privacy watchdog in the digital and technological space, warned that "There is no magic "tipping point" the SFPD can hit in which more and more surveillance will suddenly be the primary reason for safer streets—the opposite is true. The more surveillance there is, the more vulnerable communities will feel the negative impacts of heavy-handed policing."

San Francisco's Police Chief Bill Scott said a focused approach to catching and convicting repeat offenders and adopting new technology played roles in reducing the crime rate. "Once we got that equipment in our arsenal of tools, drones and helicopters, they became even more effective," said Chief Scott. "We're seeing more arrests, we're seeing more arrests on people that are prolific."

The latest data comes as the city prepares for a new mayor to lead the city. Mayor-elect Daniel Lurie met with officers in Chinatown to listen to their concerns. He acknowledged the decrease in crime, but said there is still work to be done. "It's incredibly hopeful," said Lurie. "We have to continue to do our work. I've commended them on those crime stats going down, want to continue to see improvements there."

Specifically, the mayor-elect said he wanted to see increased focus on the fentanyl epidemic and maintain the focus on public safety and said he will share more details on his plans on Wednesday.

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