Washington in 'crime emergency'

Briton Alan Senitt was stabbed to death on Sunday

Police in Washington DC are stepping up patrols after the police chief declared a citywide "crime emergency" in response to a rise in violence.

At least 14 people have been killed in the US capital this month, including a political campaigner from Britain.

There has also been an 18% rise in robberies and a 14% increase in assaults with a deadly weapon.

Police Chief Charles Ramsey's declaration allows commanders to redeploy officers to high-crime areas.

Chief Ramsey said the move would allow police officers to be more flexible in responding to crime and would provide for more visible policing, including more patrols.

The crime emergency will be reviewed after 30 days. Chief Ramsey admitted that it was a short-term solution.

"Long-term is a lot more complicated than that, and it's going to take a whole lot more than the police," he said on Wednesday.

Crime trends

Just hours after the declaration, two groups of tourists were robbed at gunpoint on the National Mall, the Associated Press news agency reported.

Among the murder victims this month was Alan Senitt, 27, from London, who was stabbed to death on Sunday in the Georgetown area. Police say his attackers attempted to rape his female companion.

Violent crime in the US last year rose at the fastest rate in 15 years, according to figures from the FBI.

A nationwide rise in killings meant 2005 saw a 2.5% rise in crimes such as murder, robbery and rape - the first increase for four years.

Crime rates dropped significantly during the 1990s, when many cities carried out programmes to specifically target the problem - and have remained flat since 2001.