Canterbury Police District 2005 Calendar year statistics
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Total Crime in Canterbury has dropped for the last three years in response to the initiatives, strategies and new processes that have been developed and implemented.
To achieve this result the district has:
Æ’{ Improved timeliness and accuracy of crime information
Æ’{ Developed our intelligence capability
Æ’{ Improved the rapid deployment of resources and strategies
Æ’{ Utilised the improved information to have more targeted use of resources
Æ’{ Increased focus on proactive policing strategies
"This is an excellent outcome but we will continue to improve on these results," says District Commander Sandra Manderson. "We appreciate the commitment of the community and other agencies working with the police to make a difference."
Canterbury Statistics have again improved overall in the last calendar year- the number of recorded offences is down over 3600 offences - down 7.5%, on the year before (2004= 48,675 2005=45,026), and resolutions are slightly improved.
On a very positive trend, Property Damage, Drugs and Anti Social and Dishonesty offence totals are all moving downwards.
All Dishonesty Offences down by 9.2% (2004= 30,043, 2005 = 27,290)
Includes Theft down by 12.4% (2004= 16,399, 2005=14,372)
Includes All burglary reduced by 4.9% (2004= 6,585, 2005= 6,260)
Property damage down 11.7% (2004= 6,285, 2005= 5,549)
Drugs and Anti Social down 8.2% (2004= 4,380, 2005=4,020)
The offence categories of Dishonesty, Theft and Property Damage are where the high volume crimes are - burglary and car offences. These are the offences most likely to impact on the general public.
"We recognise these offences are crimes that impact significantly on the community and we will continue to focus on these areas, as they have high social and economic consequences."
Offences in the categories of Violence and Sexual are on the increase. Violence is up from 4,236 offences in 2004 to 4,550 in 2005 while sexual offences increased 112 over the district, (2004= 362, 2005= 474).
The increase in Sexual offending occurred mainly in the Christchurch Central and Southern Canterbury areas. However this spike must be seen alongside figures from the last ten years Superintendent Manderson says.
"The figures for sexual offending in Christchurch Central in 2004 seem to have been exceptionally low compared to the previous year. The 2005 figure, while still high, is still lower that of 2003, and similar to 2002. (Full figures in Christchurch Central paragraph). They have fluctuated widely over the years.
"While the total numbers are not high, these are offences which should not have happened. We are working closely with other government and non-government agencies, including the Christchurch City Council, to address the problem. Our analysis shows that alcohol plays a large part in all offending. About three quarters of violent offences are said to involve alcohol."
"Overall, the drop in total crime is a reflection of the work completed by all police staff and I thank staff for their contribution in making Canterbury a safe place to live and work in."
Traffic
The low point is the rise in the number of deaths in Canterbury to 44 in 2005 compared to 40 the year before says Road Policing Manager, Inspector Derek Erasmus.
"Improvements to the crash reporting system are principally responsible for the recorded increase in serious injury crashes," he says
Tickets issued reduced by 18% from 117 000 in 2004 to 95 000 in 2005.
While some areas of enforcement have reduced, the Canterbury Police have spent considerable time on 'boy-racer' enforcement. This enforcement is characterised by the offences of,
Æ’{ illegal street racing
Æ’{ sustained loss of traction (burnouts), and
Æ’{ noisy vehicles
In 2004 Canterbury Police took 406 prosecutions for boy-racer offences. In 2005 there were 802 prosecutions - nearly a 100% increase. The Canterbury Police are particularly proactive in this form of enforcement, usually initiating over 20% of all prosecutions in New Zealand.
Boy-racers continue to be a significant problem for Canterbury, however Police will continue to be proactive in their enforcement!
Central CD
Inspector Gary Knowles
(Covers Christchurch central city, from Hagley Park out to, but not including, Sumner).
The total number of offences is down by 20% in Christchurch Central with pleasing major reductions in most offence categories, with Dishonesty and Property Damage offences down nearly 25%.
Thefts are down 23.8% and car conversion down 11.4%, says Inspector Knowles. "The total numbers are down considerably which means hundreds of people have not had their lives affected. These are crimes which impact on ordinary people and the results reflect the intelligence led policing approach my staff are working to."
The major change over the last year is number of sexual offences pushing the total up from 80 in 2004 to 150 in 2005.
"While this figure is disturbing, considerable effort has been made to encourage victims to come forward" says Inspector Gary Knowles. "The good aspect is that nearly half- 48%, are solved."
[Sexual offending Christchurch Central: 1995= 101, 1996= 82, 1997=95, 1998 = 115, 1999= 117, 2000 = 109, 2001= 137, 2002= 143, 2003= 196, 2004= 80].
The overall Violence figure is pushed up by an increase in number of robberies from 69 to 113 over last year but the Resolution rate for robberies is also up by nearly 20%.
Inspector Knowles says that the large number of dairy robberies has contributed to this figure and most have been solved with quick arrests.
"The robbery figure has fluctuated over the last few years and the 2005 total is closer to 2003 than to 2004. The use, or misuse, of alcohol makes young people in particular, very vulnerable in the city. Families have to take far greater responsibility for the behaviour of their children."
Proactive work by the Liquor Licensing and City Beat sections is showing up clearly with Sale of Liquor offences up by 74.5%.
Southern Canterbury Area
Inspector John Doyle
(Covers from Arthur's Pass to Akaroa, Selwyn, Sydenham, Hornby and Sumner.
The Southern Christchurch Metro Area has also had a reduction in crime which is reflected across the greater Canterbury results. The area has had some very good results in the reduction of the recorded violence for the year. Last year, this was a problem and the figures have now reduced.
Burglary dropped by 8.1% in the Southern Canterbury Area.
The Southern area had an increase in violence in the calendar year. This trend was picked up early. The area has a very proactive family violence policy and was trialing some family violence reporting methods. The increase was reflected across the sub district.
There was also an increase in recorded violence around street disorder and reflected the spike in disorder that occurred with boy racers on and around the Port Hills. Police and City council have worked to reduce this problem.
"We have also placed a focus on hotels and the impact that drunken people have on our violence statistics," John Doyle says. "These approaches have seen a `leveling off' of the recorded violence and for the financial year we are now back on track, in fact slightly below our previous figures. This is encouraging."
Police staff deal with thousands of incidents through the year and overwhelmingly they are dealt with in a very professional manner. Staff are busy and have been working very hard says Inspector Doyle.
"We have some very good community involvement and it is that involvement that can have the greatest gains in reducing crime. The area is covered by five Community Watch patrols, which are doing an outstanding job. Neighbourhood Support Groups have grown throughout the year and are also doing an excellent job in informing residents of problems in the areas. It is community vigilance which will have the greatest impact in reducing residential burglaries.
It is a great result right across Christchurch. Any reduction in crime is very significant in today's environment."
North Canterbury area
Inspector Andy McGregor
(Covers Papanui, New Brighton, Rangiora and North Canterbury).
The Northern Area has heavily invested in improving the intelligence capacity enabling the current resources to be quickly tasked to emerging crime risks and to focus on known patterns and crime problems says Inspector Andy McGregor. "This approach is seen as the best way to achieve further crime and risk reduction following several years of reduced crime."
This year the Area has achieved a reduction in theft ex vehicles with 203 less cars being broken into than in the 2004 year. This result is attributed to several localised theft ex vehicle operations and also greater direction being given to Community Watch efforts, he says.
Dwelling burglaries have increased to 1,978 offences, (an increase of 208), however apprehensions/resolutions have increased slightly. Patterns are emerging, indicating certain crime family groups are responsible for a disproportionate level of dwelling house burglaries and these families will be receiving greater Police and partnership agency attention.
Violence spiked in the lead up to and during the Christmas period, especially around public places and malls. High profile policing led to numerous arrests for offences committed during this period. Violence, while still of concern, is now showing signs of decreasing.
Overall, total crime in the area rose from 15,415 offences across all crime types to 15,704, an increase of 289 offences. Resolutions increased from 33.5% to 35.9%.
"Clearly there is an opportunity to drive down crime," say Inspector McGregor. "Belonging to an active neighbourhood watch and having a monitored alarm greatly reduces your family¡¦s risk of burglary. Alcohol is seen as a significant aggressor, feeding violence and sexual attacks.
With the intelligence improvements achieved this year the area looks forward to being able to reduce crime as better help our community in the current year."
Mid- South Canterbury sub area Inspector Dave Gaskin
(Covers Ashburton to Timaru).
Mid-South Canterbury continues to the safest place to live in Canterbury says Inspector Dave Gaskin.
Once again the total amount of reported crime has dropped with Mid South Canterbury
"The overall clearance rate of more than 50% is very satisfying. There has been, again, a marked downturn in vehicle crime and clearance rates for this type of offence continues to be very high," he says. "With the level of support that the community gives to the local police we can all work together to make our area and community an even safer place to live.
The increase in violence attacks has caused concern. The increase covers all violence from street violence to family violence reported to the police. It is clear the major catalyst in the numerous attacks is the over indulgence of alcohol. There has been a significant increase in the reported violence occurring in the early hours of the morning after the various licensed premises close.
"The police have been and will continue to work with the various community groups working out solutions to this anti social behaviour," says Inspector Gaskin. "Partnerships with the Safer Community Council, Community Public Health and the various District Councils that make up our area, are continuing to address the concerns over violence.