Violence endemic nationwide, says police chief

Street violence is an increasing problem for police. Picture / Martin Sykes

Methamphetamine offences have rocketed by 50 per cent in the past year, reflecting a nationwide increase in all types of drug-related crime.

In the year to June, police discovered 203 methamphetamine laboratories and charged more than 3200 people with buying, distributing and manufacturing the drug.

While the arrests reflect a 50 per cent increase in methamphetamine crime in the past year, new drug offending is still only a fraction of the 15,300 cannabis offences recorded during the same time.

Traditionally, new drug offences (which include methamphetamine and Ecstasy) have risen each year, while the two other categories of drug offending - cannabis and other hard drugs - have slowly declined. This year, all three have risen.

The 2005/06 police crime statistics show cannabis offences were up 4.4 per cent while other hard drugs (cocaine, stimulants and depressants) rose 18.6 per cent.

Part of the rise in new drug offences has come from Northland with a 228 per cent increase in methamphetamine offences.

Northland district commander Viv Rickard said the increase was partly due to two major proactive drug operations. He said the operations, which resulted in 75 arrests and up to 300 indictable charges, had had a significant impact on the manufacture and supply of drugs in Northland.

The nationwide rise in drug use followed an overall trend of rising crime throughout the country - 7.7 per cent higher than the previous year.

Nationally, more than 426,400 crimes were committed, of which 44.2 per cent were solved.

Police Commissioner Howard Broad said the main increases in crime were in property damage (15.3 per cent), violence (10.2 per cent), drugs and antisocial (6.3 per cent) and dishonesty (7.8 per cent).

Sexual offending rose 8.2 per cent, including a 116.7 per cent rise in abnormal sex (things such as bestiality).

Homicide offences, which included murder, attempted murder, manslaughter, abortion, infanticide and aiding suicide, rose from 80 to 105. Fifty-nine people were murdered, compared with 45 in the previous year.

Mr Broad said districts with the most significant increases in violence cited alcohol and often youth gang violence as factors behind the crimes.

He said police were stepping up their co-ordination effort with local communities, central government agencies and non-government organisations in relation to violent crime.

"In many ways, police are the agency of last resort. Ownership of the problem needs to be accepted by the whole community and no community can be smug about this issue," he said.

While violence was often linked to South Auckland, people needed to remember it was "endemic throughout the country".

"Everyone needs to focus on this subject," Mr Broad said. "We've got to make a more determined effort to break the cycle of violence and live up to the family values that we tell the rest of the world we cherish."

National Party law and order spokesman Simon Power said the statistics showed an alarming increase in the intensity of violence.

"These figures are an indictment on the crime prevention strategies of this Government, and make a joke of the promises by Labour and NZ First to reduce crime, and their claims that they are on top of the problem."

Police Minister Annette King said the recorded crime rate was nearly 20 per cent down on what it was 10 years ago. Increases could be attributed to the way crime was recorded and King urged people to continue reporting all crime.

"I believe the police campaign to encourage people to report family violence is paying off and we are now seeing something like the true picture emerging of a real cancer in our society."

REGIONAL SNAPSHOTS

Northland
15,913 crimes in the district, nearly 1300 more than previous year. 49.8 per cent resolved. District Commander Superintendent Viv Rickard said alcohol and drugs were significant drivers of crime in the district. There was a 228.1 per cent increase in methamphetamine crimes, which is attributed to police intervention in this area. Violent crime rose by 25 per cent, partly because of family violence. Mr Rickard said car theft had also been a problem, especially around Ngawha Prison.

Counties Manukau
52,294 crimes in the district, 10,637 more than previous year. 37.5 per cent resolved. District Commander Superintendent Steve Shortland said the increase in reported crime was not surprising given the high levels of family violence and street violence. "We will continue to treat violence in the home as a priority in this district." Police were also focusing attention on youth gang violence after a number of homicides. Mr Shortland said alcohol was contributing towards youth violence and while police were working on it, families and the community must also address the issue. Sex crimes rose by 70 per cent but Mr Shortland said many of the crimes related to just 12 files where there were multiple charges and one victim.

Auckland City
55,648 crimes, just over 3000 more than in the previous year. 37.5 per cent resolved. Acting District Commander Detective Superintendent Gavin Jones said much of the increase in crime came from five categories - car crime, crimes against justice including bail breaches, wilful damage, intimidation and threats and new drugs. "The increase in these areas is not unexpected as this is where we have targeted our resources in an effort to improve the safety of the community."

North Shore
14,175 crimes, just over 400 more than the previous year. 45.2 per cent resolved. Inspector Gary Davey said one of the district's concerns was a 9.4 per cent increase in dishonesty offences, which police were now working hard to turn around. The district was especially pleased to report a 2.8 per cent drop in violence offences.

Waitakere
18,839 crimes, nearly 1400 more than the previous year. 48.8 per cent resolved. Recorded drug offending had reduced in the past three years, while violent offences remained relatively consistent. Inspector Mark O'Connor said the overall resolution rate was particularly pleasing.

Waikato
33,565 crimes recorded in the district, nearly 5000 more than in the previous year. 44.7 per cent resolved.

The biggest increases were in the areas of car theft and burglary, while there was a noticeable 9.4 per cent drop in sex offences.

District Commander Superintendent Kelvin Powell said there were several areas of concern and specific projects and initiatives had been put in place to address them. "Burglary has been a major issue for us this year and we have looked very carefully at how we can target burglars.

We have increased burglary squads in the district and we have also focused heavily on bail-checking our known burglars."

Bay of Plenty
36,159 crimes, 660 more than previous year. 48.7 per cent resolved. Superintendent Gary Smith said there were an unprecedented number of murders in the district - 13 compared with four in the previous year.

"The heavy load shouldered by our investigators on these homicides meant we did not sustain previously high resolution rates for recorded crime or achieve another reduction in total crime."

Eastern
24,462 crimes, 2550 more than previous year. 47.6 per cent resolved.

Central
32,460 crimes, 2420 more than previous year. 45.6 per cent resolved.

Wellington
42,199 crimes, 1892 more than the previous year. 46 per cent resolved.

Superintendent Pieri Munro said burglary had dropped by 7 per cent, which could be attributed to things such as specialist burglary squads, crime control unit operations, putting the pressure on known burglars and enforcing curfew or bail conditions.

Some of the biggest areas of concern were an 8.9 per cent increase in violence and 13.8 per cent increase in property damage.

Tasman
15,836 crimes, nearly 400 fewer than previous year. 56 per cent resolved.

Canterbury
46,173 crimes, 1178 fewer than the previous year. 39 per cent resolved.

District Commander Sandra Manderson said dishonesty offences had had the greatest impact on residents and there had been a 5 per cent reduction in such crimes.

"Reducing high volume crimes of burglary, unlawful takings and thefts ex car means that hundreds of people have less disruption to their lives."

Violent crime rose by 9.3 per cent but 82 per cent of the crimes were resolved.

Southern
29,699 crimes, 1759 more than previous year. 50.6 per cent resolved.