Fewer crimes in August than 2009

File photo / Martin Sykes

The number of crimes in all categories except drug supply and liquor ban breaches dropped in August compared with the same period last year, according to police figures released today.

New Zealand Police's monthly statistical indicators show the number of reported serious assaults dropped from 1074 in August 2009 to 1012 in August this year, while the number of public place assaults dropped from 1200 to 1131 and the number of dwelling assaults 2450 to 2344.

The numbers of assaults on police dropped from 291 to 256.

The only two categories which saw a rise in the number of offences were drug supply, which was up from 485 to 516 and liquor ban breaches, up from 857 to 909

Drug-use offences dropped from 1459 to 1358 and there were 2672 offences for disorder compared with 2743 last August.

The number of burglary offences dropped from 5501 to 5356, vehicles stolen from 1931 to 1773 and robberies from 250 to 240.

- NZPA