Honolulu remains the nation's safest major city after FBI crime statistics released yesterday indicate a 15 percent decline in crime last year, according to the FBI's annual report "Crime in the United States."

In 2007, Honolulu had the lowest crime rate of any U.S. city with a population greater than 500,000.

In that year, incidences of rape, robbery, assault, theft, car theft and arson declined, and only 39,810 major offenses were reported, the lowest total since the statistics were first compiled in 1975.

The previous lowest total was 42,048 in 1985. The highest was 67,145 in 1995.

There were 34,356 violent and property crimes in 2008 compared with 39,810 in 2007, a decrease of more than 15 percent, according to the FBI report. The figures are for all of O'ahu, or the City and County of Honolulu.

"We've been fortunate to see crime in Honolulu decline steadily over the years, and last year was the lowest reported total since 1975," said FBI Special Agent Brandon Simpson. "Compared to Mainland cities of similar size, Honolulu is very safe, and by continuing our collaboration with other federal, state and county law enforcement, we hope to keep the criminal activity in our Islands at historic lows."

From January to December 2008, crime statistics show 18 murders, 203 rapes, 928 robberies, 1,426 assaults, 6,370 burglaries, 21,473 thefts, 3,938 car thefts, and 365 arson cases in Honolulu.

Burglaries and assault were the only categories that increased in 2008, with burglaries rising from 5,777 in 2007 to 6,370 last year and assaults inching up from 1,425 in 2007 to 1,426 last year.

Law enforcement officials credit the declining crime rate to a focus on repeat offenders, especially violent offenders, drug traffickers and car thieves, as well as increased community vigilance.

Officials also credited increased and focused collaboration among state, federal and county law enforcement agencies.

"It's wonderful news," Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said of the report. "It's intelligent and focused police work, and a part of it has to do between law enforcement agencies, the likes of which I have not previously seen, and it also speaks well to how we're handling our prison space.

"We're targeting the extremely dangerous and most prolific offenders."

At the federal level, law enforcement officials have been able to disrupt drug trafficking organizations.

"Through our state-local-federal teamwork, we have been successful in cutting off several routes that drugs came into our state. By having a disruption of the supply of drugs in Hawai'i, we have had an impact on its use, and thus, our property crime rates — especially since it is common knowledge that drugs directly impact the amount of property crimes in our state," U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo said.

Law enforcement officials, including Honolulu Police Chief Boisse Correa, have cautioned that the economic downturn could cause a spike in crime.

"The economy will affect crime. We expect crime to go up in some areas," said Correa, speaking at a news conference Jan. 13.

Declining tourism numbers may help alleviate some of that expected increase.

"In a state that is based on the tourist industry, when the economy suffers, tourism declines, everywhere, but especially to the more expensive locales. Even those who are not in jeopardy of losing their homes or jobs are spending frugally, and there is still a lot to see in the continental U.S.," said Ronald F. Becker, chairman of the criminal justice program at Chaminade University. "Generally, we can say when the economy worsens, crime increases. The exception may be a locale like Hawai'i that has lost thousands of visitors, that has to impact crime figures. Beyond that, it is mostly conjecture."