Reported crime down say police

Reported crime dropped in all 12 police districts in the year to June, Police Commissioner Rob Robinson announced today.

Statistics for the 2004/2005 financial year show there were 396,018 recorded offences, equating to an across the board reduction of 7.1 per cent from the previous corresponding period.

Mr Robinson said the reduction followed a long-term downward trend which was mirrored in countries such as Australia and Britain.

Wellington recorded the biggest reduction with 12.7 per cent fewer recorded offences, followed by Bay of Plenty with an 11.8 per cent reduction.

While theft and dishonesty offences were down, violent crime figures were slightly up at 0.9 per cent -- including a significant 18.3 per cent increase in robberies.

There were 2170 recorded robbery offences, compared with 1835 the previous year, with a resolution rate of 80 per cent.

Homicide offences, including murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, infanticide, abortion and aiding suicide dropped by 20 per cent from 100 in 2003/04 to 80 in 2004/05.

Actual recorded murders in the 12 months were down one to 45, while recorded sexual offences remained relatively static at about 3000, although under-reporting of such offences is thought to be prevalent.

Recorded drug and anti-social offences reduced by 12.4 per cent overall, but offences involving 'P' and other party drugs such as ecstasy rose by 8.1 per cent to 1983.

Resolution rates for overall crime dropped slightly from 45.1 per cent to 44.2 per cent. In the 2002/2003 financial year the figure for resolution rates was 43.7 per cent.

Figures for road policing showed there were 451 deaths from 377 fatal crashes, compared to 2003/2004 when there were 447 deaths but 16 less fatal crashes.

The speeding message appears to have got through with statistics showing a 15.3 per cent reduction in infringement notices issued -- despite speed camera operating hours being similar between both financial years.

Police Minister George Hawkins put the overall decrease in recorded crime down to the Government's investment in the department and policies that had put more people into jobs.

Mr Hawkins said an emphasis on road policing had also returned positive results in terms of fatalities over the past three years.

"Contrary to misinformation spread by some politicians, our road policing policy costs twice as much to implement is as received in revenue from tickets," he said.

- NZPA