The annual FBI Uniform Crime Report shows violence has increased locally. Violent crime went up 9.5 percent in 2015 compared to the year before as reported by Bakersfield police and the Sheriff’s Department. More than 4 thousand violent crimes were reported last year and homicides increased by 19 percent.

Kern County violent crimes: 2,235 in 2015, 1,982 in 2014

Bakersfield violent crimes: 1,678 in 2015, 1,810 in 2014.

Combined total: 4,045 in 2015, 3,660 in 2014.

The FBI warns against using the figures to rank cities or counties against each other due to numerous variables in the statistics.

Sean Michael Lisle