New interactive crime data reporting tool goes live

From today (30 November), a new user-friendly online tool is available for the public to access Police crime data.
 
“Until now, Police has not had an effective tool that allowed us to report recorded crime data in an easily accessible format online,” says Deputy Chief Executive for Strategy, Mark Evans.
 
“This new interactive tool provides access to a host of useful information about crime trends, across five different reports which can be collated depending on the user’s needs. It captures detailed data about numbers of offenders and victims by time, place, gender, ethnicity and age, without identifying individuals.
 
“It also includes a new report not previously available, which captures victimisations by time and place, which shows where and when crimes occurred, at a detailed level,” Mr Evans says.
“Policedata.nz will make it easier for people to explore, access, and analyse data that Police holds about crime in ways not possible before. It also reflects Police’s commitment to transparency and accessibility of information about their communities.”
 
The data sets come from collections called Recorded Crime Victims Statistics (RCVS), and Recorded Crime Offenders Statistics (RCOS), and are based on similar collections in Australia.
 
Previously, some of the data has been available through the Statistics New Zealand (SNZ) website, but has now been migrated across to the Police website, where it will continue to be available and updated monthly.
 
Statistics NZ has been working with Police since early last year to help develop the new reporting and ensure a smooth transition. It will continue to work with Police, as it does with all government agencies who publish official statistics, to provide ongoing oversight and advice.
 
“The crime data sets being released today will just be the first step,” Mr Evans says.
 
“Police anticipates using policedata.nz to roll out more data sets of public interest throughout 2017.”
 
Suzanne Townsend, Director of the Open Government Information and Data Programme based at Land Information NZ says: “Police have been exemplars in their endeavour to be open and transparent. This tool will better inform communities and enable them to work together with Police to address issues in their neighbourhood. We look forward to seeing the further improvements to come, and to seeing the results of this valuable data being put to good use.”
 
Adds Statistics New Zealand’s Natalie Keyes: “We are supporting Police as they launch this new interactive tool. The data on the Police website is the same as that previously available via Statistics NZ, but with some additional features, which will provide more information about where and when crimes are occurring. This data will help inform decision-makers and other stakeholders.”
 
Police has also consulted with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner before finalising its reports.
 
All Police statistical information also continues to be routinely independently audited and overseen as appropriate. A link to the reports is available here: www.policedata.nz
 
Video links explaining how to use the new tool are available here:
 
https://youtu.be/1DGW74WEao8
 
https://youtu.be/pcfiZtkjkNk
 
Police has also set up an email support line – data@police.govt.nz – to respond to any questions or feedback regarding the new tool.
 

ENDS
 
NZ Police media contact: Ross Henderson, Ph 021 192 2919
 
Statistics NZ media contact: James Weir, Ph 04 9314630 
 
Issued by Police Media Centre.