Subway Crime Continues to Drop Throughout January: NYPD and MTA
NYC Subway Crime Plummets in January 2025
Jan. 27 marked the first full-fledged surge of NYPD cops into the New York City subway overnight by Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams amid high-profile crimes.
Photo by Dean Moses
NYC subway crime plummeted in the first month of 2025 as congestion pricing became active and ridership surged, according to the latest NYPD transit data released Monday.
January saw 147 incidents of major crime on the subway, down from 231 in January 2024, accounting for over 36% fewer crimes committed on the rails this year.
Reasons for the Decline in Crime
The state and city have not been shy about focusing more on subway safety throughout much of 2024 and well into 2025. Officials have attributed the decline in crime to a number of factors, including the massive surge of 1,200 additional NYPD officers into the subway system, as well as an additional 300 officers patrolling overnight trains.
NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch implemented a multi-prong crime-fighting initiative for the subways in January 2025, including redirecting police officers from turnstiles and mezzanines to subway platforms and railcars, where she said most transit crimes occur.
Her initiative also focused on a crackdown of quality-of-life issues, such as drinking and smoking on trains and platforms. On a recent subway ride, amNewYork Metro witnessed officers issuing at least two people on a 7 train mezzanine summonses for drinking alcohol in the station.
“It’s critical that New Yorkers feel safe on our subways, and that’s why I deployed a three-part plan to address problems on the trains,” Tisch said in a statement to amNewYork Metro. Our efforts are working – NYPD officers are highly visible on trains and in stations, and transit crime is down double-digits across the city. Mayor Adams and I will continue these efforts to keep crime down and ensure that everyone feels safe on the subway.”
Fare Evasion
The MTA said it has made strides in the battle against fare evasion.
During a Monday meeting of the NYC Transit and Bus committee at MTA headquarters, officials reported a steep decline in of the ongoing scourge over the previous six months.
A fare-evader jumps a turnstile at 59th Street-Lexington Avenue in Midtown, where the MTA installed new spiked barriers.Photo by Dean Moses
From June 2024 to Dec. 2024, subway fare evasion decreased from 14% to 10%. Across the local and express bus network, fare evasion decreased from 50% of riders evading the fare during the summer months of 2024 to 45% by the end of the year.
Conclusion
NYC subway crime continues to drop, with a significant decline in major crime incidents in January 2025. The NYPD’s increased presence and focus on quality-of-life issues, as well as the MTA’s efforts to combat fare evasion, have contributed to this downward trend. As the city and state continue to work towards ensuring public safety, it is clear that their efforts are paying off.
Frequently Asked Questions
* Q: What is the current trend in NYC subway crime?
A: NYC subway crime is continuing to decline, with a significant drop in major crime incidents in January 2025.
* Q: What factors are contributing to the decline in crime?
A: The increased presence of NYPD officers, including the surge of 1,200 additional officers into the subway system, as well as the focus on quality-of-life issues, are contributing to the decline in crime.
* Q: What is the MTA doing to combat fare evasion?
A: The MTA has implemented various initiatives to combat fare evasion, including the installation of new turnstile arms with half-moon “fins” and spiked barriers to prevent people from jumping turnstiles.
