The news of another homicide in a Christchurch home has unsettled people all over New Zealand.

 

The crime came to light on the same day Clayton Weatherston was sentenced for murdering his ex-girlfriend Sophie Elliott, and soon after a man appeared in court for allegedly murdering Rebecca Chamberlain and Tisha Lowry. (Stuff, 15 Sept; TV3, 11 Sept.)

 

There seems to have been a terrible rash of violent incidents. It does happen from time to time, and it's natural to question if serious crime is spiraling out of control.

 

Statistically, this is not actually the case. Over the last decade, the murder rate in New Zealand has remained steady at an average of 52 murders a year.

 

Of particular concern to police is the percentage of these related to family violence - generally between a third and half of all murders.  

 

Along with so many of my colleagues, I have worked on numerous homicides over the years. Murder is a terrible waste of life that leaves a traumatic legacy for families dealing with the sudden and violent loss of their loved one.

 

A conviction helps to provide families with a sense of closure, and our resolution rate is very high. Last year there were 52 recorded murders, and 50 were resolved. 

 

The police work tirelessly on their investigations as they always have, but we have improved our focus on victims and their families. It's part of our role to help them through a time which could well be the worst of their lives.

 

We appoint a family liaison officer in every homicide case. He or she becomes a main point of contact for police and the media. They help the family through an overwhelming range of processes and demands, from finding a photo of the victim to press conferences and the court case.

 

But prevention is always better than investigation. We are currently working hard to become better at predicting where murders may occur. In domestic violence, for example, certain patterns of behaviour can suggest higher levels of risk. The better we are able to understand those, the better our officers will be able to help.

 

My thoughts are with the families affected by the recent loss of their loved-ones. Please trust that our staff will do all they can to bring some small comfort.