Despite a drop in overall crime in New York City, the number of slashings and stabbings in 2016 increased 20 percent, a total of 899, compared to the same time last year.<br />"It's one of the few crimes that are going up [to a] level that is of concern to us," Police Commissioner William Bratton said.<br />Murder overall is down 21 percent, but “homicides by cutting instruments” are reportedly up.<br />Last month, Mayor de Blasio announced “Operation Cutting Edge,” under which officers will examine slashings and stabbings as closely as they do murders.<br />Police are hoping that including more details about the crimes in police reports will present a way to stop them.<br />"I’m confident that over time, [like] just about everything else we focus on around here, they will go down," Bratton said.
