TAMPA (FOX 13) -
Crime rates are dropping once again locally and in Florida, according to the
latest statistics released by the FDLE.
Overall crime is down 3.8 percent, and all the major counties in the Tampa
Bay area saw a drop. In Hillsborough, crime is down by 6.3 percent. In Manatee,
it's dropped an impressive 15.5 percent.
While most crimes were down, however, the number of murders in the state
went up by 1.5 percent. Forcible sex offenses also hiked by 1.5 percent.
Gov. Rick Scott was in
Tampa today to announce the numbers, saying he was very proud over the fact that the
crime rate is the lowest its been in 41 years.
More than 400 of the state's law enforcement agencies took part in the
report. It represents almost 99 percent of Florida's population.
