Hastings and Napier CBDs have most crime in region

There are more assaults and aggravated robberies in Central Hastings than anywhere else in Hawke's Bay. Photo/Duncan Brown.

Far more assaults, thefts and robberies happen in the Hastings and Napier CBDs than any other part of Hawke's Bay.

Burglaries in Napier are the only exception, with more occurring in the suburbs of Marewa and Onekawa South than the central city area of Nelson Park.

Hastings Central had considerably more burglaries than surrounding suburbs.

More thefts from cars happen in Napier than Hastings, despite Hastings' larger population.

Nelson Park, Marewa and Bluff Hill had the highest number of these thefts.

Retail theft is also higher in Napier, with 1790 thefts from shops since mid-2014 in Nelson Park. In Hastings Central, there were 1492 retail thefts.

Susan McDade of Hastings City Business Association said retail thefts in the city had improved recently.

"They're actually being solved a lot quicker."

She said City Assist patrols had helped, as did retailers working together and efforts of the community constable.

Retail thefts, burglaries and thefts from cars were rising in both Napier and Hastings.

The number of assaults in Napier also rose steadily from mid-2014, with a spike in numbers early this year.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday are the most common days for assaults to occur in both Napier and Hastings.

Police investigating a robbery in Napier. Photo/Paul Taylor

More assaults took place in the afternoon than any other time of day.

Napier and Hastings have higher rates of non-violent crime than most New Zealand cities.

Hastings has more burglaries than Wellington, a city with more than twice the number of people.

There are more than twice as many retail thefts in Napier as in Nelson, which has a similar population.

Police have allocated an extra 68 police officers to the Eastern District over the next four years.

The exact areas the officers will be going to have not yet been announced.

Napier MP and crime spokesman Stuart Nash said four years was too long to wait for more officers as police were already understaffed.

Napier's National candidate David Elliott said law and order was important to the Government.

"National has invested half a billion dollars to reduce crime and keep communities safe."

He said the number of burglaries had fallen significantly since late last year.

Sociologist Jarrod Gilbert said crime in general was decreasing in New Zealand and had been for several decades, despite the recent spike in burglaries and robberies.

"People think it's increasing but when you look at the sobering old boring data it tells a very different story."