Violent crime up again in United States

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WASHINGTON, June 1 (UPI) -- The FBI reports that violent crime rose slightly in 2006 in the United States for the second consecutive year, with robberies up 6 percent.

The Uniform Crime Report to be released Monday says the number of violent crimes was up 1.3 percent last year, after a 2.3 percent rise in 2005, The Washington Post reported Saturday. That was the first significant increase since 1990.

"After years of driving crime rates down, we're now in reverse gear," said Sen. Joseph R. Biden, D-Del., who chairs a crime subcommittee. "It's time to get back to crime-fighting basics -- that means more cops on the streets, equipped with the tools and resources they need to keep our neighborhoods safe."

Experts were unsure about the reasons for the rise, which was sharpest in medium-sized cities.

They said there may be more teenagers in the population or inmates released from prison. Gang violence has also spread to many smaller cities.