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Crime rates are actually dropping despite a spate of violent attacks in recent weeks that have dominated media headlines, Prime Minister Helen Clark says.
Three murders in South Auckland this month and two separate suspected gang attacks in Hawke's Bay and Southland in recent days have spurred calls for greater police powers and a harder line on punishment.
But Helen Clark today said the cluster of attacks was creating a perception that crime was on the rise, which was wrong.
"Overall crime is down in New Zealand," she said on TV3's Sunrise programme.
"The perception that's being driven in the headlines is simply inaccurate.
"Now the figures will show that reported violent crime is up, but the increase is 93 per cent driven by domestic and family violence being reported in a way it's never been reported before and it's important it's reported so we can actually deal with it."
Miss Clark said the Government had made several moves to tackle gangs including the setting up of an Organised and Financial Crime Agency which will start next month and law changes last week making gang membership an aggravating factor at sentencing.
In relation to South Auckland, government department chief executives had been meeting to see how they could support the Manurewa community and also support Maori Wardens.
"We are dealing with bad urban design over a long period of time which has contributed to the problem and we're dealing with the alcohol outlet issue."
It is dealing with the latter by promising to tighten liquor licensing laws giving local communities more power to object to applications with the aim of limiting the number of outlets in any given suburb.
Miss Clark said the Government would also be putting more youth workers into Manurewa, like it had done with some success when youth gang violence erupted in Otara about 18 months ago.
Four Mongrel Mob members are due to appear in court today facing assault charges after partygoers at Bridge Pa, near Hastings, were attacked with a machete, knives and a baseball bat on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Invercargill's Mayor Tim Shadbolt has called for greater powers for police to deal with gangs after a tit for tat conflict between the Mongrel Mob and the Road Knights gang led to the suspected torching of a house in Invercargill on Saturday night.
- NZPA
