Canterbury Crime Statistics Show Minimal Increase

New Zealand Police National News Release

1 October 2008

for full statistics please go to www.police.govt.nz

2007- 2008 Fiscal year Canterbury District Police Crime Statistics

Canterbury Police District's total recorded crime in the 12 months ending 30 June 2008 has remained at a similar level to the previous year.

The crime statistics released today show a less than one percent increase in recorded crime for the year ending 30 June 2008 compared to the previous year. This equates to a slight reduction per head of population, as Canterbury's population has risen over the same period.

Canterbury Police resolved 44% of recorded offences in the year ended 30 June 2008, up from 40% the previous year. The increase in the resolved recorded offences relates to the Police focus on targeting repeat criminal and combined police operations target locations and commodities.

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

Increases included Drugs and Anti-Social offences, which rose 9% and Property Damage offences, which rose 5%. The Canterbury Police have completed a number of proactive Drug Operations over the last 12 months that have accounted for the increase in Drug Offences.

The increase in Property Damage offences was driven mainly by Wilful Damage, which rose by 295 offences.

Two factors dominating the increase in recorded Drugs and Antisocial offences are Disorder, which rose 12%, and Sale of Liquor Act offences, which rose 9%.

Dishonesty offences decreased significantly over the same period. These offences include Burglary, which fell 6%, Theft, which fell 4%, and Car Conversion, which fell 3%.

Recorded Violence rose 2% in the year ending 30 June 2008, which is less than the national average of 11%. Minor and Serious Assaults offences were the main drivers of the increase which increased 9% and 4% respectively. Robbery, and Intimidation and Threats decreased by 23% and 5% respectively.

The number of Dishonesty offences continues its long-term decrease. In the 20007-08 year there were 487 recorded Dishonesty offences per 10,000 population, compared with 512 the year before and 722 in 1998-99.

ENDS

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