Indicator definitions

1. Bail Checks: The number of times police checked to ensure a person on bail for having allegedly committed offences is complying with his or her bail conditions. This may involve checking that a person who has a curfew is at home when he or she is supposed to be, or not associating with other criminal associates. Bail conditions are generally imposed to limit opportunities for re-offending whilst on bail, and to protect victims and witnesses. By performing bail checks police can deter offending and ensure those breaching bail are brought before the court.

2. Detox / Home: The number of times Police transported an intoxicated person home or to a secure location for them to sober up. By removing intoxicated people from situations where they may be at risk or may cause problems, police help keep both that person and the community safe.

3. Road Checkpoints: The number of road checkpoints police established to check on drivers. Road checkpoints are visible and can have a deterrent effect on offending. Often police will discover drunk or disqualified drivers, and everyone knows they could get caught if they break the law. So, road checkpoints help to keep our roads safe. Also, sometimes a road checkpoint results in the apprehension of an offender who is wanted by police, and for whom police have a warrant for his/her arrest. Road checkpoints are an effective way of improving the visibility of police.

4. Vehicles Stopped: The number of times police stop a vehicle to make enquiries. This could typically be to check a driver's license, to investigate something suspicious about the vehicle, or to check for weapons or wanted people. Vehicle stops are the most common interactions people have with police. Like road checkpoints, they provide an opportunity to both deter and detect offending.

5. Foot Patrols: The number of times police are tasked to patrol a given area on foot. Originally, police in urban areas spent a lot of time on foot patrol, covering a lot of the city. However, such random foot patrols do not make efficient use of police resources. Today, foot patrols usually target locations and times where and when offences are more likely to occur. This has been shown to be more effective than random patrols. Undertaking foot patrols in 'hot' locations provides a visible police presence that can deter offending. Foot patrols are also linked to improved community perceptions of safety and reassurance.

6. Police Safety Orders: Police Safety Orders came into operation on 1 July 2010 under Part 6A of the Domestic Violence Act 1995. They allow for the immediate removal of a person for up to five days, and put in place conditions to protect the person at risk.

   Police are now able to issue safety orders to bring immediate protection in situations where there are grounds to believe that family violence either has occurred or might occur, but where there are insufficient grounds to justify arrest for a family violence offence. Police can detain people who breach a Police Safety Order.

7. Drugs Supply: The number of offences police recorded for illicit drugs manufacture, transportation or dealing; in other words, making money from illicit drugs, as opposed to using drugs. These offences are often recorded as a result of police operations that target this type of crime and/or organised crime. The number of offences reported is usually related to the amount and success of police activity focussed on this type of offending. This indicator covers all drug types. Police publish statistics on offences for specific types of drugs every 6 months on the first working day in April and October.

8. Drugs Use: The number of offences recorded for illicit drug use or possession, as opposed to supplying other people with drugs. These offences are often recorded as a result of police activity attending and investigating offences. These could be police operations targeting drug offending. Drug Use offences are often encountered by police investigating other matters. This indicator covers all drugs types. Police publish statistics on offences for specific types of drugs every 6 months on the first working day in April and October.

9. Liquor Ban Breaches: The number of breaches of liquor bans detected by police. Liquor bans are imposed by local authorities as a measure to reduce alcohol-related disorder. By enforcing these bans, police are acting to prevent escalation of problems in a given day, and more generally send a message about responsible use of alcohol.

10. Disorder: The number of disorder offences recorded by police. These offences include behaviours such as fighting in a public place, disorderly behaviour likely to cause violence and using obscene language. Disorder is often associated with excessive consumption of alcohol. Police often intervene when disorder occurs to prevent behaviour escalating to more serious violence. The increased detection of disorder is generally linked to increases in police focus in this area.

11. Assaults Police: The number of assaults recorded against police. This type of offence tends to occur when police intervene in volatile situations such as those involving disorder or family violence.

12. Serious Assaults Resulting in Injury: This is a new category for reporting crime statistics in New Zealand and reflects a category in the Australian Standard Offence Classification (ASOC), which New Zealand is adopting from July 2010. Offences reported here include 'grievous assault', 'aggravated assault', 'male assaults female', 'assaults child' and other serious assaults that resulted in physical injury. This category excludes common assaults and other assaults that did not result in injury. Serious assaults resulting in physical injury can occur in public places or dwellings. In such instances, the assault will be included in two indicators in this report.

13. Public Place Assaults: The number of recorded assaults that occurred in public places. This includes both serious and minor assaults. This indicator focuses on the type of location where the assault occurred.

14. Dwelling Assaults: The number of assaults recorded that occurred in dwellings. This indicator includes both serious and minor assaults. This indicator focuses on the type of location where the assault occurred. Most assaults in New Zealand occur either in public places or dwellings. Dwelling assaults often occur in situations where family violence is a factor.

15. Robbery: The number of robbery offences recorded by police. A robbery is a theft from a person which is accompanied by violence, or threats of violence. Robbery offences have been included because they are serious offences that tend to be of public interest.

16. Burglary: The number of burglary offences recorded by police. Unlike robbery, burglary does not necessarily involve violence or threats of violence. It does involve entering an enclosed space with the intention of committing an offence. Burglary offences have been reported here because they are serious offences that tend to be of public interest. Police have a strong focus on preventing and responding to burglaries.

17. Vehicles Stolen: The number of offences police recorded for theft or unlawful taking of a motor vehicle. This includes instances where a vehicle is taken for a joy ride and later recovered, as well as instances where vehicles are taken permanently. Such offences have been included because they are of public interest. Police have a strong focus on preventing and responding to these offences.

>>> Back to Monthly Statistical Indicators