Total crime in Auckland City Police District dropped by 9 per cent in the fiscal year 2003/2004 representing 5,384 fewer offences in the district over the 12-month period from July 1 2003 to June 30, 2004.
The district’s boundaries align with those of the Auckland City Council, except for the Otahuhu Ward, which comes under the jurisdiction of the Counties/Manukau Police District.
Auckland City’s acting district commander, Detective Superintendent Gavin Jones, said the overall result was pleasing and a credit to a combination of factors, not least of which was the close working relations the district has with partner organisations and service providers.
"Also, the district has been operating with a full complement of staff for most of the period and that’s impacted positively on our result," Mr Jones said.
Violent offences dropped by 4 per cent – at least 200 fewer incidences – to 4,735 for the year, in a city where the residential population is increasing steadily per annum.
Within that category though, there were four more homicides (9) in the district than the previous year and robberies went up by 9 per cent to 456 recorded offences.
The number of recorded sexual offences fell – by 12 per cent from 353 offences in 2002/03 to 310 in 2003/04.
Dishonesty offences – the crime category that includes burglary, car conversion, fraud, receiving and theft – are down by 10 percent over the district, although burglary offences per se are up by 3 per cent.
There were 11 per cent fewer thefts from vehicles in the district recorded in the 12-month period and 7 per cent fewer car thefts, conversions and unlawful takings. The biggest gain in those crime categories was made in the Auckland City Central Area where there was a drop of 15 per cent.
"Overall, I’m very pleased with the results staff in my district have helped achieve," Mr Jones said.
"However, we never rest on our laurels and we’ve got plenty of challenges ahead of us in the coming year.
"I’m confident though that this district will continue to achieve in the areas of crime and crash reduction through efficient utilisation of resources and by working alongside our many stakeholders, service providers and the communities we serve."
ENDS
Issued by Noreen Hegarty
Auckland City Police Communications Manager
Ph 09 302 6947 or 0274-951-589
Website: www.police.govt.nz