By Jana Winter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Violent crime fell 4.5% in the United States last year, marking the second consecutive annual decline, while hate crimes decreased by 1.5%, the FBI said in its annual national crime report released on Tuesday.

The report is based on data collected from 16,675 state and local law enforcement agencies, which together represent about 86% of the FBI’s crime data reporting program. It showed a decline in overall crime across the country following a pandemic-era spike.

There was a 14.9% drop in murder and non-negligent manslaughter – the lowest rate in nine years – and a 5.2% decline in incidents of rape.

It said 64 law enforcement officers had been feloniously killed in the line of duty last year. Firearms were involved in 46 of those deaths, according t

See Full Page