Total recorded crime fell 5.6 per cent in the Bay of Plenty Police District for the 2011 calendar year.
Figures released today show that a total of 36,534 offences were recorded, a decrease of 5.6 per cent or a reduction of 2167 offences from the 2010 calendar year.
Bay of Plenty's resident population rose 0.6 per cent in the same period and when this is taken into account, the total crime rate dropped 6.2 per cent per 10,000 population.
The official crime statistics for the 2011 calendar year show that two of the four Bay of Plenty Police Areas had decreases in crime, with Rotorua seeing a decrease of 5 per cent and Western Bay of Plenty with a significant decrease of 13.8 per cent. The Eastern Bay of Plenty Area saw an increase of 8.2 per cent – or an increase of 439 reported crimes. The Taupo Area had a small increase of 0.6 per cent, or 46 reported crimes.
The District Commander of the Bay of Plenty Police District, Superintendent Glenn Dunbier, says today's figures once again show good progress in the District, but also reflect the need for a continuing focus on preventing crime.
"We are fortunate to be policing in a District which enjoys good support from its local communities and partners, and we are all focused on working together to prevent crime.
"Our focus is on contributing to confident, safe and secure communities, so that that people are and feel safe and reassured in their homes, in the street and on the roads.
"We will do this and help prevent crime by being visible, identifying and managing repeat locations, offenders and victims, working in partnership with our communities, providing easy access to our staff and our services."
Superintendent Dunbier says the District will remain focused on preventing crime and the region's most vulnerable, including children, repeat victims and those subject to violence, including family violence.
Some of the highlights of the crime statistics include:
• Robbery, extortion and related offences dropped by 26.7 per cent or 40 offences
• Acts intending to cause injury dropped 3.3 per cent or 140 offences
• Abduction, harassment and other related offences dropped by 7.6 per cent or 91 offences
• Theft and related offences dropped by 1.4 per cent or 153 offences
• Illicit drug offences dropped 22.1 per cent or 587 offences
• Property damage and environmental pollution dropped by 11.8 per cent or 620 offences
• Public order offences dropped by 17.1 per cent or 856 offences
Some of the crime areas that increased include:
• Sexual assault and related offences rose 61.9 per cent or 135 offences
• Unlawful entry with intent, burglary, break and enter increase 6.8 per cent or 360 offences
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