1.   After a summer of the kind of unseasonably cool and wet weather that blunts street violence, the rate by which crime is declining is actually accelerating.

2.   All other serious crimes have declined sharply as well, with the exception of forcible rape, which is down only slightly from last year.

3.   But in recent years, as the Taliban enforced its severe brand of Islamic law with public executions or dismemberment for criminals, crime declined.

4.   Crime declined sharply in New York, proportionately more than in most other major cities.

5.   In fact, although crime is declining in many cities, it is increasing in others while remaining level in most suburban and rural areas.

6.   In recent years, however, as the Taliban had enforced its severe brand of Islamic law with public executions or dismemberment for criminals, crime had declined.

7.   Others point out that the issue is not prominent because violent crime has declined nationally for the past several years.

8.   Police officers on foot patrol say crime has declined impressively.

9.   She also noted that both violent and nonviolent crime had declined during her term.

10.   The New York department is not alone in receiving harsh criticism, he noted, even as crime has declined.