SLED: Crime rates decrease, but weapons crimes up overall

(WSPA) – The number and rate of violent and property crimes across South Carolina decreased in 2023, though the number of weapon law violations increased, according to data from the State Law Enforcement Division.

This week, SLED released its report of 2023 crime statistics across the state.

Data for the report was collected from sheriff’s offices and police departments around the state. According to SLED, of 277 active law enforcement agencies, 204 reported data for all 12 months of 2023, 63 were missing records for at least one month of the year and 10 submitted at least one months’ worth of data, but due to errors were unable to fully report their data.

Based on the data collection, crime rates are down across many reported categories.

Data is split into multiple categories, examining the rate of crimes committed – based on the population of a county – and the overall number of crimes committed.

Most notably, the state’s violent crime rate went down over 5%, marking the third yearly decrease in a row. The state’s murder rate and the overall number of murders also dropped from 2022 to 2023.

Robberies decreased statewide for the seventh year in a row, achieving the lowest rate in the last 30 years, and sexual battery rates dropped more than 8% to the lowest rate in 30 years.

Motor vehicle thefts went up slightly from 2022 to 2023, though thefts are still down more than 10% over a five year period from 2019 to 2023.

Most notably, weapon law violations increased slightly, marking the 10th consecutive year the rate of weapon violations have increased.

Weapon law violations include breaking laws against making, selling, buying, transporting, owning, hiding or using guns, cutting instruments, explosives or other deadly weapons. It also includes making or using silences and giving weapons to minors.

In the Lowcountry, Dorchester and Colleton counties saw some of the highest violent crime rates in the state, while Georgetown County reported a 27% decrease in violent crimes.

In the Upstate, Pickens and Cherokee counties reported some of the lowest violent crime rates in the state, with Cherokee County seeing a 29% drop in violent crimes from 2022 to 2023, one of the largest drops in the state.

Union County reported one of the highest property crime rates in the state and Laurens County saw a 27% dip in property crime rates.

You can read the full report below: