After years of significant drops, rape complaints are up dramatically - but Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly still thinks the crime is being underreported.
The NYPD logged 340 rape complaints in the first three months of this year, compared to 274 during the same period in 2010, a 24% jump.
It isn't a blip: The numbers are up 32% over 2009.
Brooklyn had the highest number of reported rapes - 97 - with Manhattan second at 86.
The NYPD has been trying to encourage more women to come forward, one possible reason for the increase in complaints.
"Commissioner Kelly believes it is an underreported crime," NYPD spokesman Paul Browne said.
"Any increase is regrettable, but the fact that in 87% of reported rapes, the assailant was an acquaintance or relative of the victim indicates a willingness of victims to come forward, even when they know their assailant."
Kelly initiated reforms in how sexual assaults are handled after meeting with rape counseling groups last December.
Responding uniformed officers are now required to notify the Special Victims Unit, which sends its detectives to interview the victim. Kelly has also added 30 detectives to the unit.
"The increased expert attention of specialized units may help to encourage reporting, as well as successful prosecution," Browne said.
Last year, the city logged a total of 534 rape complaints.
Harriet Lessel, executive director of the NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault, said it's unclear if there have been more rapes.
"Are more people reporting, or have the police been working on reporting to make sure victims are classified correctly?" she asked.
But Lessel agreed that the numbers are likely much higher than the stats show.
"Most victims don't report rape," she said. "They feel embarrassed or ashamed because most are raped by people they know.
"I really don't think police statistics alone are ever going to give us a complete picture."
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