Wade on Birmingham

EXCLUSIVE – Crime Watch: Birmingham climbs to No. 7 in crime rate ranking

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

Despite drop in major crimes, city jumps from eighth place in 2008

Birmingham may be seeing welcome relief when it comes to crime, but not enough to sway its ranking in the CQ Press’ annual city crime rankings released today. The city again made the Top 10, placing at No. 7.

Wade on Birmingham - Crime WatchIn 2008, the city ranked eighth, and in 2007 and 2006, it placed sixth.

Last week, Birmingham reported a 12 percent drop in major crime in 2009, including a 25 percent drop in homicides.

The Washington-based publisher used crime data reported to the FBI in six areas: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary and motor vehicle theft. In previous years, CQ Press referred to the rankings as the “Most Dangerous Cities” list, but dropped the designation this year.

Other Alabama cities ranked:

95. Huntsville
136. Mobile
140. Tuscaloosa
152. Montgomery

Camden, N.J. topped that list.

In the list of 2009 Metropolitan Crime Rate Rankings, Birmingham-Hoover came in at No. 21. Also on that list from Alabama:

11. Columbus, GA-AL
20. Mobile
64. Tuscaloosa
101. Montgomery
123. Huntsville
141. Gadsden
159. Dothan

Pine Bluff, Ark., is No. 1 on the list.

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