Overall recorded crime in the Auckland City District went up by one percent - just over 670 offences - in the 2006 calendar year, compared to about 53,600 offences recorded in 2005.
The biggest contributors to the increase were in the offence categories of unlawful taking of motor vehicles/car conversion, fraud, new drugs, disorder and robbery where there were 1004, 303, 259, 214 and 180 more offences respectively than in the previous year.
However these were offset by significant drop-offs in the numbers of thefts from cars (down by nearly 810 offences), thefts (down by nearly 1,000 offences) and serious assaults (down by nearly 180 recorded offences).
There were five murders in the district in 2006, the same number as 2005.
Reasons for the increased level of "new drugs" offences relate to the continued increasing use of methamphetamine and associated paraphernalia, particularly in the central and eastern areas of the City District.
While the number of recorded robberies, especially street robberies, showed an increase in 2006, several people responsible for them were arrested and put before the Courts late last year. The flow-on effect was a marked drop of such offences in the last six months of the year, particularly in the western area of the District.
One percent more recorded Auckland City District crime - 37 per cent - was resolved in 2006 than was the case in 2005. More than 60 per cent of violent attacks were resolved, while 16 per cent of unlawfully taken motor vehicle offences were.
Acting Auckland City District Commander, Superintendent Brett England, says the City District's statistics for 2006 were not surprising and they reflected the efficacy of a number of operations carried out over the 12 months.
"It's no coincidence that thefts of items from vehicles dropped by more than 800 offences (8 per cent) as staff, particularly in the east and western areas, carried out successful operations designed to inform motorists about how to improve the safety of their vehicles and to better deter potential offenders from committing such crimes," he said.
ENDS
Issued by Noreen Hegarty
Auckland City Police Communications Manager
Ph 09 302 6947 or 0274-951-589
Website: www.police.govt.nz