Fiscal year crime statistics

Recorded offences per 10,000 people dropped by 1.3% in the 2009/10 fiscal year.

Not taking into account a 1% increase to New Zealand's population in the same period (1 July 2009 - 30 June 2010), recorded offences decreased by 0.1%.

As well as 580 fewer offences being committed in 2009/10 than the previous year, Police also resolved 523 more offences.

This has lifted the resolution rate from 47.9 to 48.1%, an increasing trend over the last three years.

Police Acting General Manager Development, Kevin Kelly says from a policing perspective, the statistics reflect a nationwide commitment to tackling crime.

"The figures are a credit to police staff and their commitment to making communities safer by holding offenders to account."

For the first time, the fiscal year offences are grouped according to the Australian Standard Offence Classification (ASOC) for grouping offence codes. The move does not change the total number of offences recorded, just how they are grouped.

The move is a first step towards making statistics in the two countries more comparable.

Within the total crime figure, as with every year, there is variation between different types of offences, and different parts of the country.

During the year there were 65 murders compared to 54 a year earlier.

The increase is partly attributable to a spike of 12 unrelated murders in August 2009, resulting in an increase of 38.6% in the Recorded Homicide and Related Offences division.

However over a 25 year period, the murder rate remains flat.

Offences in the Acts Intended to Cause Injury division rose by 3.3%, driven entirely by Family Violence assaults.

"It is important to note that, while family violence in this division increased by 8.5% from the previous year, the rate of increase has slowed compared to 2007/08 (28.1%) and 2008/09 (13.1%)."

"Increased reporting of such crimes mirrors the continuing focus on domestic violence and community intolerance to acts of family violence," says Mr Kelly.

Sexual offences, which make up less than 1% of recorded crime and are known to be significantly under-reported, increased by 2.7%.

Illicit drug offences increased by 1.8% in 2009/10, but the resolution rate remained stable at 93%.

"Operations targeting organised crime, in particular cannabis and methamphetamine, improved intelligence and reduced availability of controlled drugs have driven changes to these offences," says Mr Kelly.

There were decreases in offences related to Robbery and Extortion (-2.1%), Burglary (-0.9%) and Theft (-0.2%) during the year.

"Police are crediting reductions in burglaries with better targeting of known offenders, and an increased focus and imposing meaningful bail conditions on offenders."

The greatest reduction in any division was in Fraud, Deception and related offences which dropped by 25.6% from a year earlier.

In New Zealand's largest metropolitan area - greater Auckland - recorded offences per 10,000 people dropped by 7.2% in Waitematā, 6.6% in Auckland City and 3% in Counties Manukau.

"The very encouraging reductions in crime in these Districts is a result of tremendous work by staff in those Districts combined with the recent increase in staff numbers in Counties Manukau," says Mr Kelly.

For full statistics see: http://www.police.govt.nz/statistics/2010/fiscal For Frequently Asked Questions see: http://www.police.govt.nz/service/statistics/faqs-June-2010

ENDS

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