Northland District's total recorded crime in the 12 months ending 31 December 2009 has increased compared to the previous year.
The crime statistics released today show an 8 percent increase in recorded crime for the calendar compared to 2008. This equates to a 7 percent increase in offences per 10,000 people, as Northland's population has increased slightly in the same period.
Northland Police resolved 56.6 percent of recorded offences in the year, unchanged from 2008, but still well above the national average of 47.8 percent.
Within the total volume of recorded crime, some types of offences have increased, whilst others have decreased.
Increases included Drugs and Antisocial offences, which rose 16 percent, and Dishonesty offences, which rose by 12 percent. Property Abuse offences (-11 percent) and Administrative offences (-20 percent) reduced in Northland in 2009.
Violence
The total number of recorded Violence offences in Northland has increased by 3 percent. This increase has been driven by a 6 percent increase in recorded family violence. The results are consistent with the national picture, where there have been significant increases in recorded family violence offences since the national roll-out of training to all front-line staff in family violence investigation and risk assessment. Also, media campaigns over recent years have encouraged reduced tolerance of family violence. Many people may now be reporting to police family violence offences which in the past may not have come to police attention.
Improved reporting enables the police, along with its key partners, to direct its resources into reducing crime.
Drugs and Antisocial
The increase in drugs and antisocial offences in 2009 can be largely attributed to an increase in cannabis offences (up 28 percent), along with disorder offences which were up by 6 percent. Recorded offences in the other classes of drugs offences (New Drugs, and Drugs (Not Cannabis)) both more than doubled in volume in 2009. The largest reduction in the drugs and antisocial Category was in breaches of liquor bans imposed by local authorities, which dropped 15 percent in 2009.
Liquor bans have now been in force in all Northland towns for some time and the public have been aware of the restrictions.
Acting Northland District Commander Inspector Chris Scahill says Northland Police are continuing to target alcohol and drugs, which is shown in the high resolution rates of more than 90 percent for offences in these areas.
Last year Operation Kristy resulted in 245 arrests and Northland Police destroyed 67,508 cannabis plants and seized 54 grams of methamphetamine.
A number of other operations were carried out last year, such as Operation Fender and Operation Abyss, which resulted in police charging a number of people for methamphetamine related offences.
Inspector Scahill says following these operations, police and other agencies, such as the Ministry of Social Development, are working together to look at ways of reducing the opportunity for the supply and manufacture of illicit drugs in Northland.
Dishonesty
Dishonesty offences increased over the same period for the first time since 2005, up 12 percent. These offences include burglary, up by 22 percent, theft, up by 11 percent and fraud offences which rose 7 percent. In contrast, car conversion dropped by 3 percent compared to 2008.
Inspector Scahill said, "Despite the increase in the number of burglaries in 2009, the resolution rate for burglary offences in Northland has increased consistently over the past three years and is now at 22.5%."
END
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Officer Sarah Kennett on 09 430 4525 or 027 494 1214.
Full details of the 2009 crime statistics are available at www.stats.govt.nz