Nearly 10,000 More Crimes Resolved By Police This Last Year

New Zealand

Police National News Release

1 October 2008

Police resolved nearly 10,000 more offences in this past year compared to the previous year, Assistant Commissioner Grant Nicholls said today.

The annual crime statistics released by Police today cover the financial year to 30 June 2008.

"Police resolved 9685 more offences this last year, increasing the national resolution rate for all recorded offences to 47.0 percent from 44.7 the previous year" Mr Nicholls said.

There were 107 more offences recorded in this last year with 426,691 compared to 426,584 the previous year. This is a shift of 0.025 percent.

"When this figure is adjusted to take into account the population growth during that time the crime rate has actually decreased by 1 percent," Mr Nicholls said.

Recorded Violence offences rose 11.1 percent with all districts experiencing increases. Within the violence offence category, the increase in family violence was most marked at 29%. It accounted for all of the increase in the violence offence category.

"During this last year Police undertook mandatory front line training for all staff in family violence investigation and risk assessment. Tolerance for family violence in the community is likely to have continued to fall as a result of the 'It's Not OK campaign'," Mr Nicholls said.

"Many people may now be reporting family violence offences to Police which in the past may not have come to our attention at all. This does not necessarily equate to an increase in the prevalence of family violence offending."

Drugs and Anti-social offences increased 5.9 percent. Nationally, over half the increase in this offence category is due to a 22 percent increase in recorded breaches of liquor bans, which rose from 7650 offences to 9359 in this last year.

"In recent years liquor bans have proven to be a highly effective tool in helping curtail public place disorder and Police continue to encourage local authorities to implement permanent bans particularly in central business district entertainment areas and holiday spots.

"Methamphetamine offences have reduced 18% from their peak two years ago. The only class of drug offences to record an increase this year was cannabis, which increased 6%. This was driven by a 34% increase in offences recorded for dealing cannabis, and reflects a Police strategy of targeting drug dealers," Mr Nicholls said.

Dishonesty offences which make up 52% of all offences reduced 5 percent continuing a long downward trend from its peak in 1996-97.

All districts apart from Eastern recorded more property damage offences in the past year. This continues a three year trend of significant increase in this category. Most districts cite graffiti, and in particular tagging, as a significant driver in this increase.

"A new offence code was created last year to capture statistics specifically relating to graffiti and in future years we will be able to monitor trends in this area.

"On 1 July 2008 Police introduced a new national recording standard. This new standard is expected to make the recording of crime statistics more comprehensive. It is likely this will cause a small but statistically significant impact in recorded crime statistics for offences occurring after 1 July of this year," said Mr Nicholls.

ENDS

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