Auckland City - Fiscal crime statistics

Auckland City Police recorded a marginal drop in the level of overall crime compared to the previous fiscal year.

Statistics released today show a 0.8 per cent reduction in recorded crime for the Auckland City District. The number of recorded offences dropped from 56,364 to 55,898 while the district's crime resolution rate remained steady on 39 per cent in the year ending 30 June, 2009.

While overall recorded crime in the Auckland City District dropped, the levels of some types of offences have gone up while others have gone down. The biggest falls were in the Antisocial (down by 9%) and Administrative (down by 4%) offence categories. There were small increases (1% or less) in the Violence, Dishonesty and Property Abuse categories.

There were fewer Disorder and Breach of Liquor Ban offences than in the previous year, but this was offset somewhat by an increase in Drugs offences, particularly in Drugs other than Cannabis.

"Greater compliance with the City Council liquor ban by-laws, particularly in the CBD, is evidenced by the 13 per cent reduction in Breach of Liquor Ban offences where there's been an overall 25 per cent reduction of Disorderly Behaviour offences," Auckland City District Commander, Superintendent George Fraser said.

"The increase in Drugs offences primarily relates to incidences where Police have detected offenders carrying drugs or drug utensils for personal use."

Offences in the Dishonesty category increased by just less than 1 per cent in the same period. Such offences include Car Conversion (up by 10 per cent) and Burglary (up by 14 per cent). However these increases were partially offset by reductions in the levels of recorded thefts and fraud, down by 7 per cent each.

"The rise in the number of recorded dwelling burglaries is of concern," Mr Fraser said. "It is important that occupants do what they can to enhance property security. This could mean using dead bolts, installing or upgrading alarm systems and perhaps establishing or joining up with a Neighbourhood Support group."

The increase in the total number of recorded Violence offences has been driven almost entirely by an increase in recorded family violence. Auckland's results are consistent with the national picture, where there have been significant increases in recorded family violence offences following the latest national roll-out of training to all front-line staff in family violence investigation and risk assessment.

Also, publicity campaigns over recent years have encouraged less tolerance of family violence. Many people may now be reporting family violence offences to Police which, in the past, may not have come to Police attention.

Improved reporting enables the Police, along with its key partners, to direct its resources into reducing crime.

ENDS

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