New York’s murder rate dropped 17 percent in 2007, and the city expected to have fewer than 500 homicides for the year, representing a new record low. Last year was the 17th consecutive year to see a drop in major felony crime in the city.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly say the continuing reduction of crime is the realization of what some called an impossible dream. “When I came into office, many believed it was impossible to drive crime, particularly murders, down any further,” Bloomberg said in a statement. “Yet, beginning in 2002, crime declined steadily and murders fell below 600 annually for the first time in 40 years.”

Domestic violence, a major source of homicides, also dropped 36 percent in 2007. For the past five years, the city’s police department has made a special effort to prevent domestic violence, doubling visits by specially trained detectives to homes where incidents of spousal and child abuse have been reported.