Dunedin Police are pleased the latest crime statistics show a 5.8% drop in recorded offences in the Dunedin and Clutha local authority areas for the year to 30 June 2009.
There was a decrease in recorded crime in all offence categories, excluding sexual and drugs and anti-social offences.
The number of offences categorised as violent decreased from last year, with 51 fewer recorded violent offences in the year to 30 June 2009. This was driven mainly by a reduction in group assemblies offences (-56).
Dunedin and Clutha area commander, Inspector Dave Campbell, said the reduction in group assembly offences was mainly due to the fact that no students were charged with rioting during the 2008 Undie 500 as opposed to the 2007 Undie 500 event.
There was a small (+27 offences) increase in drugs and anti-social offences. The largest increase within this category was for drugs (cannabis) offences, which increased by 25% from 483 offences to 605 offences. The increase in drugs (cannabis) offences was largely offset by a 37% reduction in breach of liquor ban offences, which dropped from 214 recorded offences to 134.
Inspector Campbell said liquor ban offending had reduced because more people were aware of the ban and city safety officers regularly advised people in the central city of the ban.
A continuing drop in dishonesty offences was influenced primarily by a reduction in the number of car conversion and theft offences, which dropped by 11% and 9% respectively.
Inspector Campbell said unlawful taking of cars and thefts from cars had dropped markedly thanks to the work of the police youth crime team.
"These officers have been targeting our worst youth offenders who are responsible for much of the car-related crime," he said.
The 7% decrease in property damage offences was driven entirely by a drop in wilful damage offences, by 229 from 2,599 recorded offences to 2,370.
"Our suburban community constables have been tasked with combating wilful damage in their areas. This has helped to bring about a reduction in this type of offending," Inspector Campbell said.
Property abuse, and administrative offences decreased by 14%, and 30% respectively. The reduction in the property abuse category was mainly due to a reduction in trespassing offences. The reduction of 30% in the administrative category resulted from 52 fewer offences against justice such as bail, judicial process and by-law breaches.
ENDS