Dozens of cities see jump in murders, robberies

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A review of 55 cities' crime data from the first six months of this year indicates the overall number of homicides rose by 4.2% compared with the same period in 2005, according to the Police Executive Research Forum, a police advocacy group. In a report Thursday, the group also said robberies rose nearly 10% and that aggravated assaults were up slightly.

The report is the latest turn in a debate over whether the U.S. government has neglected local law enforcement needs by directing tens of millions of dollars to anti-terrorism initiatives. The police executives' group has been among those pressing for more police funding to counter rising numbers of violent incidents involving gangs and drugs. Among other things, the group has cited the FBI's report last month that detailed a 1.8% increase in the nation's murder rate in 2005, after a two-decade low in 2004.

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