Felony Assaults in NYC Subways Surge 18% Amidst Broader Crime Dip, Union Alleges MTA Misleads Public

New York City's subway system is facing renewed scrutiny over its crime statistics, as the Transport Workers Union (TWU) publicly accused the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) of selectively presenting data that downplays a significant rise in violent incidents. The union highlighted an 18% increase in felony assaults, despite an overall reported 4% decrease in major felonies this year.

The TWU, in a recent social media post, directly challenged the MTA's narrative, stating, > "The @MTA in NY is playing three-card monte with crime stats. Yes, total felonies are down ~4% this year - but that’s largely because non-violent pickpocketing (grand larceny) is down. Felony assaults are UP 18! Stop playing games, MTA." This accusation points to a critical distinction between different crime categories. Official MTA crime statistics released in May 2025 corroborate a 3.9% decrease in total major felonies compared to the same period in 2024, while simultaneously confirming an 18% surge in felony assaults during the same timeframe.

This rise in felony assaults has been a growing concern, with reports indicating a shift in the nature of subway crime. In 2023, felony assaults surpassed robberies for the first time in nearly two decades, signaling an increase in impulsive and non-monetary motivated violence. Experts, such as Aaron Chalfin, an associate professor of criminology at the University of Pennsylvania, have noted that felony assaults in the subway system tripled from 2009 to 2023, a trend that predates the pandemic.

Despite the MTA and NYPD's efforts to increase police presence and improve public perception of safety, the union argues that the focus on overall crime reduction obscures the more dangerous trend of escalating assaults. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch has previously stated that major offenses overall in the subways dropped 18% in Q1 2025 compared to Q1 2024, attributing this to increased police deployment. However, the TWU's critique underscores a persistent gap between official broad statistics and the specific types of violent crime impacting rider and worker safety.

The ongoing debate highlights the challenge for city and transportation officials in addressing both the reality and perception of safety in New York's vast subway network. The TWU's call for transparency and a halt to what it terms "playing games" with statistics emphasizes the need for a more nuanced and direct communication about the evolving nature of crime within the system.