Camden Crime Is Up Since Police Layoffs

Crime in Camden is on the rise following deep cuts to the police force earlier this year.

An analysis of crime data by The Courier-Post of Cherry Hill finds violent crime was up 13 percent from Jan. 1 through June 20 compared with the same period a year ago.

The rates were also higher than in the first half of 2008 and 2009.

Assaults with guns have been particularly high, up 60 percent from last year.

The newspaper also found nonviolent crime up by 21 percent so far in 2011.

Experts caution not to blame just the layoffs, which shed nearly half the city's police force amid a budget crisis in January. Since then, some officers have been hired back.
     
 

Copyright Associated Press

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