In the latest crime statistics released today, reported crime in Counties Manukau Police District is continuing to decline. Reported crime in the District for the 2012/2013 fiscal year is down by 5.3 per cent.
The recorded offences that have dropped the most across the Counties Manukau Police District include robbery (-18.5 per cent), assault (-15.2 per cent), harassment and threatening behaviour (-14.8 per cent) and theft excluding motor vehicles (-3.5 per cent).
Car crime is down significantly in the past seven years since 2005/2006, with reported numbers of theft ex car -37 per cent and stolen vehicles -38 per cent.
Reported sexual assault offences are up by 16.2 per cent on the previous fiscal year. This can be considered a positive result, attributed to a higher level of trust and confidence in Counties Manukau Police officers and as a result more offences reported, rather than more offences occurring. In many cultures, sexual offences are considered shameful and victims may be pressured by family to not report the crimes.
Counties Manukau Police District Commander Superintendent John Tims says the overall drop in recorded crime is a credit to the positive crime prevention work being done in the District.
”All our staff are committed to the Police working model of Prevention First and making Counties Manukau a safe place to live, work and visit," he says. "We're pleased to be able to say we have contributed greatly towards changing the perception of Counties Manukau District and we're working toward preventing crime before it occurs.
"Prevention work in all areas of the District is underway to help residents and visitors avoid becoming victims for opportunistic crimes such as theft and burglary."
Superintendent Tims says reported crime in the Counties Manukau District has been tracking downwards over the past four years and Police are committed to ensuring this continues.
At a national level, recorded crime continues to drop with recorded offences dropping by 7.4% on the previous year.
The level of total reported crime for the District is the lowest recorded per head of population since electronic records began.
ENDS
Issued by Kimberley Mathews/Communications Manager, Counties Manukau Police
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