Violent crime increased 1.3 percent nationwide last year and by twice that percentage in Pittsburgh, according to statistics released yesterday by the U.S. Justice Department.

		Graphic: Violent crime rises

The department's preliminary annual report, comparing crime statistics compiled by the FBI for 2005 and 2006, showed 3,473 violent crimes in Pittsburgh last year, an increase of 2.6 percent. The category includes murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

The city did show declines in murder, from 63 in 2005 to 56 in 2006, and rape, from 117 in 2005 to 102 last year, according to the statistics.

The report also showed a decrease in property crime -- burglary, larceny/theft and motor vehicle theft -- of 2.9 percent nationwide and 2.5 percent in Pittsburgh.

Figures from 2006 are the most recent available from the Justice Department.

Investigators here say the homicide rate this year is on the rise. This year, the city has recorded 27 killings, which is ahead of last year's pace, according to the medical examiner's office.

Pittsburgh Police Chief Nate Harper could not be reached yesterday.

The FBI statistics released yesterday for Pittsburgh are the city only, and not the rest of Allegheny County, where homicide also has been on the rise so far this year.

There have been 23 homicides in Allegheny County outside of Pittsburgh, said county police Superintendent Charles Moffatt. At this time last year, there had been 15 homicides outside of Pittsburgh.

Mary Jo Harwood, director of client services for the Center for Victims of Violence and Crime in Pittsburgh, said the statistics might not give the whole story.

"If we had a system in place that made it safe for people to come forward with responsible reporting [of sex assault incidents in particular], I don't think we'd see a drop in crime," she said.

Jasiri X, a Nation of Islam minister, said what he is seeing in neighborhoods is far bleaker than the Justice Department numbers.

"These are people we know and we love. It's not about statistics," he said.

"It's a perfect storm [for disaster]," he said. "We have a lack of opportunities, a failing education system, and [media-fueled] desire for more. We equate success with how much money you make, not righteousness."

Though law enforcement agencies compiled the statistics, he said the responsibility falls on people in the communities to stem the increase.

"The last few shootings have happened in front of churches. There's a higher calling for us to come out of the churches and mosques and synagogues and go where the young people are," he said.

Superintendent Moffatt concurred that crime prevention begins with civilians.

"We're constantly on the lookout to have better development in our relationship with the communities, and we're going to have to do more of that," he said. "Communities have to step forward -- there has to be more collaboration between the police officers and the communities we serve."