The total volume of recorded crime for the 2006 calendar year shows a slight increase of 4.1 percent compared to 2005.
The total number of offences recorded in 2006 was 424,134, compared with 407,496 in 2005. When adjusted for population the increase is 3.1 percent per 10,000 population.
Assistant Commissioner, Grant Nicholls says the increase is consistent with the effects of a change over from the Law Enforcement System (LES) (the old Wanganui Computer) to the National Intelligence Application (NIA) introduced by Police in 2005. This resulted in a marked "step change" increase in recorded crime.
"The effect of this change has previously been advised. Comparing the full calendar 2005 with 2006 will not give a valid representation of recorded crime over the two years.
"However the last six months of each year can be compared in a meaningful way as statistics for both periods are recorded using the new system," he said.
Comparison of July-December 2005 with July-December 2006, both of which relate to periods after the IT system upgrade reveal that there was a 0.04% reduction in recorded crime. The following observations are based on this comparison.
Nationally the largest jump in crime category occurred in the area of sexual offences with a 9.7 percent increase.
Sexual offences make up only 0.8% of recorded crime. However, internationally and in New Zealand, victimisation surveys consistently show that the vast majority of sexual offences are not reported to Police, Mr Nicholls says.
"The increase in recorded sexual offences between the latest July-December periods may be due to the increased public awareness and reduced tolerance of such offending."
Recorded Violence has risen 1.8 percent, with five districts experiencing decreases and seven districts experiencing increases. The greatest decreases were in Northland (-9%) and Auckland City (-8%). The greatest increases were in Waikato (9%) and Waitemata (8%).
Within this figure, the increase in recorded domestic violence (+3.4%) was greater than for non-domestic violence (+1.0%).
Within the Violence offence Category, robbery experienced the greatest increase nationally. There were 1,328 recorded robberies in the last half of 2006, up from 1,098 the same period the previous year - a 21% increase.
Six of the twelve districts had a drop in recorded crime, including Bay of Plenty District with a 10.1 % drop and Northland with an 8 % drop.
In the Bay of Plenty decreases were recorded in all categories except property damage.
The largest increases were recorded in Wellington with an increase of 7.7% and Canterbury with an increase of 6.5 %. The Waikato and Central Districts also increased with 4.9 % and 4.1 % respectively.
"Increases in crime can reflect more proactive police work so simple comparisons of district performance are difficult. What I am sure of is that frontline police throughout the country are working hard to tackle crime. With increasing support from the community we hope to drive up both reporting and resolution rates," said Assistant Commissioner Nicholls.
Mr Nicholls said that no statement about the last calendar year would be complete without a reference to the tremendous results in road policing,
" We have stuck to our knitting in road policing, doing what we do well and the results speak for themselves, "he said.
The 2006 calendar year road toll of 390 was the lowest in 46 years and this comes on the back of decreasing mean speeds and tickets issued.
"Our policy of general deterrence which ensures highly visible, equitable road policing really has saved lives. Our policy of policing the areas around schools is also a campaign of which we can be particularly proud,
Speeds are lower, and our children are safer, simple as that," he said.
Where you can access more detailed statistics
Further details are contained in reports available today on Police's Internet site, at the following address:
Additionally, Statistics New Zealand will at Noon today make available via its Internet site, Police recorded crime data at a detailed level
Contact for further info:
Media Relations (04) 474 9442
A/hrs (026) 10 10 82