KEY POINTS:
The overall crime rate was down in the year ended June 30, but a surge in reported family violence offences meant violent crime was up 11 per cent.
Annual crime statistics released today for the financial year to June 30 showed 107 more offences were recorded in the year than in the June 2007 year. Adjusted for the population increase in the same period, this was a 1 per cent decrease, police said.
Police resolved 9685 more offences in the year, increasing the resolution rate to 47 per cent from 44.7 per cent in the previous period.
Violence offences rose 11.1 per cent - with the family violence sub-category increasing 29 per cent.
Assistant Commissioner Grant Nicholls said the increase was due to the It's Not OK campaign and mandatory police training on family violence which prompted an increase in reporting of family violence.
"This (increase) does not necessarily equate to an increase in the prevalence of family violence offending."
In the year ended June 2007, violent crime increased by 4.4 per cent.
Drug and anti-social offences increased 5.9 per cent.
Nationally, more than half this increase was due to a 22 per cent increase in breach of liquor bans, Mr Nicholls said.
"In recent years liquor bans have proven to be a highly effective tool in helping curtail public place disorder."
Methamphetamine offences decreased 18 per cent from their peak two years ago.
The only drug offences to increase were cannabis offences, up 6 per cent.
Mr Nicholls said the increase was driven by a 34 per cent increase in cannabis dealing offences and "reflects a police strategy of targeting drug dealers".
Dishonesty offences, which make up 52 per cent of all offences, reduced 5 per cent.
Eastern district was the only area to recorded a fall in property damage offences.
Property damage has significantly increased over the last three years due to graffiti and tagging problems, Mr Nicholls said.
A new offence code was created last year to capture graffiti statistics and enable monitoring of the problem.
- NZPA
