Overview
- At a year-end briefing, officials said Boston has recorded 31 homicides in 2025, up from 24 last year yet 16% below the five-year average.
- Commissioner Michael Cox said shooting victims and incidents of gunfire are at historic lows, down more than 30% compared with the five-year average.
- Mayor Michelle Wu repeated that Boston is the safest major city, a claim GBH questioned using MCCA data showing several cities with lower homicide rates through September.
- Police cited a 113% increase in shoplifting arrests and expanded downtown patrols that they say corresponded with a 24% drop in violent crime in that area.
- Officials reported arrests up 54% and violent crime down 8% around Mass. and Cass, and they pointed to a recent arrest tied to October street takeovers as agencies prepare for large events including 2026 World Cup matches.