The annual recorded crime statistics released today shows 9.9% less crime recorded in 2013, which builds on a 9% decrease from the year before.
34,806 offences were recorded across the Wellington Police District which covers Wellington City, the Hutt Valley, Porirua and the Kapiti Coast and the Wairarapa.
Across the Wellington District there were 3,807 fewer offences. This year, the Kapiti-Mana Area saw the most significant reduction if 13.4% followed by the Hutt Valley (10.3%), Wairarapa (9.2%) and Wellington City (7.7%).
Wellington District Commander, Superintendent Sam Hoyle, says "It is heartening to see these year-on-year reductions which indicate to me that the crime prevention work we are undertaking across multiple fronts with our communities and partners is working."
"We all know that crime isn't random and through targeted deployment of officers and increasing our foot patrols we can be more visible, deter crime, and ensure we understand community problems and concerns."
"I know all our staff are committed to ensuring that people feel safe in their community by stopping crime before it happens and providing the best possible service to our victims."
"Particularly pleasing to see is offences such as serious assaults resulting in injury and theft from vehicles almost halving from a peaks in 2006/2007 which, while we would like that number to be zero, it shows our proactive approach in areas such as CBD policing is resulting in real gains."
"We're working even smarter to target repeat offenders and locations so we can prevent people from becoming a victim of a needless crime. Targeting of offences such as burglary means we've been able to arrest several high-profile offenders and link them to multiple locations".
"It is now easier to report crime than ever before through addition of the 24 hour a day, seven day a week Crime Reporting Line for historic crime. Information from the public remains our best asset to detect offenders, establish trends and get ahead of crime."
ENDS
A copy of the statistics can be found on the Police website: http://www.police.govt.nz/sites/default/files/publications/crime-stats-wellington-20131231.pdf
For media queries, please contact Nick Bohm, Wellington Police District Communications Manager on 021 192 1816.