Violent crime, except homicide, down in L.A.

Violent crime in Los Angeles dropped 7.2% during the first half of 2008 compared to the same period last year – with the exception of homicides, which rose 4.3%, newly released crime statistics show.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Police Chief William J. Bratton credited the drop in violent crime, including rape, robbery and assaults, to the city’s aggressive campaign to hire more police officers, the crackdown on street gangs and the increase in anti-gang and youth programs.

At a news conference Wednesday morning at the Barrio Action Constituent Center in Los Angeles, Bratton blamed the increase in homicides on a rash of multiple killings earlier in the year.

However, he said he expected homicides to be down by year’s end. The number of homicides already has declined significantly in the last few months, he said.

 phil.willon@latimes.com