1 April 2008
Canterbury Police District 1 January - December 31 2007 statistics
Full details of the 2007 crime statistics are available at www.stats.govt.nz
Total reported crime has increased in 2007.
There has been an increase in recorded crime in the Canterbury Police District over the last year says District Commander, Superintendent Dave Cliff. Total recorded crime has risen 1.7% to 47,853 recorded offences compared to 2006 (47,047 recorded offences).
Resolutions have improved from 39% in 2006 to 41% in 2007.
The District is focusing on reducing high volume crime and road trauma.
Violence continues to be a major concern for the community and pleasingly, there has been a 0.3% decrease in violent offences across the District (4819 offences in 2007 compared to 4,834 offences in 2006).
Christchurch Central which includes the inner city of Christchurch has had reductions in serious and grievous assaults and robbery.
Burglary offences have decreased in each of the Canterbury Police Areas resulting in an overall reduction in burglary offences of 11% over the District (6049 offences in 2007 compared to 6812 offences in 2006).
Car Crime, (theft and unlawful taking) has continued to decrease, with a 12% reduction in the 2007 year. (2,134 offences in 2007 compared to 2,429 offences in 2006).
Drugs offences have increased over the District. However this is an area which positively reflects police activity. These offences are recorded largely because police have detected and initiated the prosecution of them.
Evidence of the implementation of proactive strategies are seen in the increase in the number of offences recorded for Sale of Liquor Act offences (35% increase) including Breaching the liquor ban (38% increase) as well as drug offences.
Disappointingly, 56 people died on Canterbury roads during 2007, up from 33 deaths in the 2006 year.
"Police will be increasing enforcement on seat belts across the Canterbury District as it estimated 15 people would have survived last year had they been wearing a seat belt" says Superintendent Cliff.
The Canterbury District has continued to execute targeted operations aimed at reducing volume crime by concentrating on known offenders, locations and victims.
Operation Crusader is putting more police walking the beat in Christchurch on Friday and Saturday Nights, providing improved enforcement and public reassurance.
Liquor bans have been strictly enforced with recognition of the strong links between excess alcohol consumption and violence.
"The Canterbury Police will be working closely with the community in the next year, building on the successful strategies already in place, and looking for new ways to reduce crime and crashes".