Increasing crime rate bad news for families

Families throughout NZ will not be sleeping easy tonight with the knowledge that New Zealand's crime rate has increased by almost 7 per cent in the past year.

“Most concern will come from the increasing prevalence of crimes that directly impact families and their safety,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“The latest figures show murders increasing by almost a 1/3'rd, a 10.2 per cent increase in violent offences, 47% increase in sexual offences in the Counties-Manukau area, crimes involving methamphetamine-type drugs recording an increase of 50 per cent – bringing with it the anti-social crime and drug-crazed crimes, a 15.3 per cent increase in property damage due to the activities of youth gangs and graffiti tagging, and an increase of 17.4 per cent in domestic violence offences”

“All these crimes make families feel unsafe and cause parents to be concerned about their children being in public places,” says Mr McCoskrie. “But of most concern is the official response from the Government and Police Commissioner.”

Commissioner Broad offers no reassurance to families by stating that some of the increase in recorded offences could (our emphasis added) be attributed to changes in recording practices associated with changes to the police central computer system.

The Minister of Police said "The more crime reported, the better the intelligence police could develop about crime patterns, and the better the intelligence, the better placed police were to prevent crime occurring…. The increase of 17.4 per cent in recorded domestic violence offences is an excellent example.”

“These statements show an unwillingness to confront the reality of these hugely concerning figures,” says Mr McCoskrie. “The government fails to acknowledge that the reason they have to build more prisons is because more crime is being committed.”

ENDS

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