China News Service, December 30. According to a report by the US Chinese website, due to the impact of the new crown epidemic and protests, crime rates in major cities such as New York City have soared.

So far in 2020, New York City has recorded 447 homicides, making 2020 the bloodiest year in the city in nearly a decade.

  "I can't imagine a darker period than now." New York Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said at the annual briefing on December 29.

On December 4, local time, a shooting occurred in the Bronx area of ​​New York City, the United States, injuring two to three marshals and a gun suspect.

The picture shows the police patrolling the scene of the incident.

  The new crown epidemic has caused severe damage to the New York Police Department. Dozens of police officers have died, and some criminal investigation teams have been infected.

Since June, hundreds of police officers have been deployed to maintain law and order in large-scale protests. There have been violent clashes between police and protesters, and shootings have also increased.

  Although commuting has dropped sharply due to the epidemic and thefts on public transportation have dropped sharply, burglaries and car thefts have surged.

During the epidemic, robberies and shootings in small grocery stores increased.

  According to the report, the increase in violence in New York is similar to the trend in many major cities in the United States. Although the epidemic has reduced other crime rates, shootings and homicides have increased.

  "We have never experienced a year like this in police law enforcement. We are facing a global epidemic and the dual challenge of community trust," said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the non-profit Police Administration Research Forum. Said.

On November 9, local time, people on the streets of Manhattan, New York City, USA.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Liao Pan

  Although the crime rate has increased, the number of cases detected by the police has decreased.

According to police department records, the New York police detected 26.3% of serious crimes in the second quarter, down from 35.8% in the same period in 2019.

"I think the new crown had an impact earlier this year, when we had a large number of people out of their posts." Shea said.

  In addition, because the epidemic forced the courts to operate in a virtual manner, the trial of many cases has stalled.