Newly released statistics show that Baltimore's violent crime rate is dropping even as such crimes are on the increase across the nation.

But Baltimore has a long way to go -- it has significantly higher homicide and violent crime rates than any of the other 20 largest U.S. cities.

It also appears unlikely that Baltimore will record fewer than 175 homicides this year, the goal set by Mayor Martin O'Malley when he took office.

Police Commissioner Edward T. Norris summoned reporters to police headquarters yesterday and praised Baltimore as one of the "few bright spots" in the country.

"This validates what we've been doing," Norris said. "We're doing better than most American cities."

Yesterday, the FBI released statistics that show overall crime rose nationwide by 2 percent -- the first increase in a decade -- as part of its Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

Violent crime -- which includes homicides, rapes, robberies and assaults -- increased 0.3 percent last year compared with 2000. Homicides rose 3.1 percent and robberies 3.9 percent.

By contrast, Baltimore saw a 7.5 percent reduction in violent crime and a 13 percent drop in robberies.

Homicides remained about the same, at 256 last year compared with 261 in 2000.

O'Malley and Norris in recent months have trumpeted statistics that show Baltimore posted a 21 percent decrease in violent crime since 1999 -- the largest drop of any of the 20 largest U.S. cities.

FBI statistics show that the city closest in the rankings is New York, which recorded a 13.5 percent reduction without including deaths resulting from the terrorist attacks Sept. 11. Norris said the two years of reductions prove his strategies are working.

"One year, of course, does not make a trend, but two years is more significant," he said.

Much of the department's success will depend on coming months and whether it can continue to reduce violent crime, particularly homicides.

The city has recorded 123 homicides this year compared with 127 during the same period last year. Baltimore is on a pace to record 258 homicides by the end of the year.

Baltimore also must continue its crime decreases if it no longer wants to be known as the most deadly and violent of the 20 largest U.S. cities. It is No. 1 on the list, with 39 homicides and 2,272 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

Memphis was next, reporting 24 homicides and 1,670 violent crimes per 100,000 residents.

Detroit, the 10th-largest U.S. city, did not report statistics to the FBI.