Calendar Year 2009 - Counties Manukau Crime Statistics

Extra staffing resources and new crime-fighting initiatives introduced across the Counties Manukau District are helping police respond decisively to crime, and work with communities to prevent crime happening.

Crime statistics released today show Counties Manukau District resolved more recorded offences (43 percent) than the previous year (41 percent). However this remains lower than the national average of 47.8 percent.

The District recorded an 8.8 percent rise in recorded crime for the year.

District Commander, Superintendent Mike Bush says Counties Manukau Police is well on the way to achieving its goal of having 300 additional staff within the District by December 2010.

"The extra resources have allowed the creation of Public Safety Teams to address areas of community concern and a Major Crime Team to address serious crime within the district.

"New local and national initiatives including Crimestoppers are providing Police with ongoing opportunities to address crime in local communities," said Superintendent Bush.

By December 2009 this had enabled Counties Manukau Police to conduct:

* 2,494 more vehicle stops than December 2008
* 446 hrs of extra hot spot patrolling
* 863 extra bail checks compared to the same time last year
* 236 more calls for service were attended in relation to suspicious behaviour.
* 330 more disorder related incidents were attended
* 144 more hours of foot patrolling in the district was completed compared to December 2008.

Within the total volume of recorded crime, some types of offences have increased, whilst others have deceased.

Violence

The increases in total crime are largely accounted for by a 14.7 percent increase in family violence reporting and a 14.4 percent rise in drugs and anti-social offences. Disorder offending, which is part of the drugs and anti social category, rose by 7.9 percent.

"Much of the increase in the total number of recorded Violence offences was accounted for by an increase in recorded family violence offences," said Superintendent Bush.

Counties Manukau's increase in family violence offences is directly attributed to the police strategy of encouraging people to report family violence, and is consistent with the national picture.

Proactive Policing Initiatives

"The increase in drug offences reflects the District's ongoing focus in targeting organised crime and gang involvement in the manufacture of Methamphetamine and sale of cannabis through neighbourhood "tinnie houses," said Superintendent Bush.

Counties Manukau Police have executed 303 drug search warrants since June 2009.

The rise in disorder is offset by a 3.2 percent decrease in public place violence reflecting ongoing police focus on alcohol fuelled offending and intervening in breaches of the liquor bans before the incidents escalate into violence.

Reductions

House burglaries in Counties Manukau fell 4.2 percent in 2009 compared to the previous year, while motor vehicle crime including stolen cars also dropped 4.2 percent compared to 2008.

ENDS

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