Northland District Crime StatisticsNorthland Police District's total recorded crime in the 12 months ending 31 December 2008 has remained at a similar level to the previous year.
The crime statistics released today show a less than one percent decrease in recorded crime for the year ending 31 December 2008 compared to the previous year. This also equates to a slight reduction in offences per head of population, as Northland's population has increased over the same period.
Northland Police resolved 57% of recorded offences in the year ended 31 December 2008, up from 53% the previous year, and well above the national average of 47%.
This resolution rate is the highest achieved by Northland Police in the last 10 years.
Superintendent Mike Rusbatch, Northland District Commander, said he is pleased that staff are resolving more crime in the district and much of this is due to an improved forensic capability, work around interviewing practices, improving the informant base and focusing on the victims of crime.
"It is also testament to the strength of our partnerships with various government and community agencies and the good relationship Police has with members of the public in Northland."
Within the total volume of recorded crime, some types of offences have increased, whilst others have decreased.
Increases included property abuse offences, which rose 11%, and administrative offences, which rose by 25%.
Dishonesty offences decreased significantly over the same period for the second year running. These offences include burglary, which fell 15%, car conversion, which fell 13% and theft, which fell 6%. These reductions were offset to some degree by an increase in fraud offences (up 47%).
Violence
Although there have been fewer homicides and robberies in Northland, the total number of recorded violence offences increased by 6.4%.
The largest increases in violence offences in Northland have been minor assaults and intimidation and threats. The increase in violence offences has been driven entirely by an increase in recorded family violence assaults.
Northland's results are consistent with the national picture, where there have been significant increases in recorded family violence offences following the national roll-out of training to all front-line staff in family violence investigation and risk assessment.
Media campaigns over recent years have also encouraged reduced tolerance of family violence. Many people may now be reporting to Police family violence offences which in the past may not have come to Police attention at all.
Improved reporting enables the Police, along with its key partners, to direct its resources into reducing crime.
Drugs and Antisocial
The increase in drugs and antisocial offences in 2008 can be entirely attributed to an increase in cannabis offences. Breaches of liquor bans imposed by local authorities, and other offences under the Sale of Liquor Act, have decreased by 10% in 2008.
Northland Police are continuing to focus on its crime and cannabis operations and last year, during Operation Julia, Police arrested more than 200 people on drug offences and seized more than 45,000 cannabis plants.
Operation Kristy, which started in December last year, has just been completed.
This operation has resulted in more arrests and cannabis seized than in Operation Julia.
"With 40 percent of the country's cannabis crop coming from Northland we will keep targeting those people who grow, supply and manufacture illicit drugs," said Mr Rusbatch.
Dishonesty
Dishonesty offences, which include burglary, car theft and fraud, are continuing to drop, with a further decrease this year of 8%.
"It is encouraging to see a slight reduction in total crime and a higher resolution rate. We want to see less victims of crime in Northland and we will apprehend those who commit crime," said Mr Rusbatch.
"Police encourage members of the public, who are the eyes and ears of their communities, to report crime, so we can help to make Northland a safe place to live and work."
Ends
The statistical data is available on the police website: