Annual Report 2014

In this Annual Report you will read what Police planned to do and what we actually did, including how 2013/14 was a year in which recorded crime fell a further 3.2 percent, year-on-year, with 11,621 fewer recorded offences than the year before. The total of 353,564 recorded offences contributed further to the previous year, which was the lowest in more than 30 years. The road toll was at an all time low of 278, the lowest since official records began.

In the 2013/14 year the New Zealand Police maintained a focus on measuring performance against a few key priorities including:

1. Reducing crime. As crime reduces, the financial, economic and social costs of crime are also reduced. Further and related to (3), people are much more secure and much less anxious if they are not victimised in the first place.
2. Reducing death and injury on the roads. This is a source of great community distress (and financial and economic cost). Reducing road trauma and harm has benefits to all.
3. Protecting communities. The communities, and people, that are preyed upon deserve our protection. Repeat victimisation, and the fear and distress it causes needs to be reduced.
4. Maintaining trust in the Police. This ensures Police will operate by public consent, and is able to fulfil its functions. It is vital Police’s independent powers are balanced by accountability to the public.

By targeting our efforts, New Zealand Police will be better able to deliver the goals we’ve set in our Statement of Intent, and we’ll also support wider government goals, across multiple sectors including Better Public Service Targets. The intention of Annual Report is to provide a report card against what we set out to achieve.