Violent crime in Los Angeles dropped 7.2% during the first half of 2008 compared to the same period last year -- with the exception of homicides, which rose 4.3%, newly released crime statistics show.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Police Chief William J. Bratton credited the drop in violent crime, including rape, robbery and assaults, to the city’s aggressive campaign to hire more police officers, the crackdown on street gangs and the increase in anti-gang and youth programs.

At a news conference Wednesday morning at the Barrio Action Constituent Center in Los Angeles, Bratton blamed the increase in homicides on a rash of multiple killings earlier in the year.

However, he said he expected homicides to be down by year’s end, nudged by the drop in overall gang-related and violent crime in the city. The number of homicides also has declined significantly in the last few months, he said.


“Last year we had a historic low,” Bratton said. “It’s trending in the right direction.”

Overall, violent crime in the city has declined by nearly 50% since 2002, according to LAPD statistics, including a 38.9% drop in homicides.

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phil.willon@latimes.com