The Police’s national Prevention First strategy is continuing to achieve positive results in the Southland Policing Area with a further 8% crime reduction for the year to 30 June 2013 and a 60.5% resolution rate.
The number of recorded offences dropped from 7,648 in 2012 to 7,038 in the year to 30 June 2013.
Southland Area Commander Inspector Lane Todd says the latest crime reductions continue to build on the positive results achieved in partnership with the Southland community over the past three years.
"In the year to 30 June 2010 Southland Area had 9,333 recorded offences - these latest results mean a total crime reduction of 24% or 2,295 fewer recorded offences," he says.
The area has now embedded the national Prevention First operating strategy which places the focus on the five drivers of crime: families, road policing, youth, alcohol and organised crime.
Inspector Todd says: "The Police team in Southland is now fully focussed on preventing crime. We now have a much greater focus on victims with several prevention plans in place that concentrate on the five drivers of crime."
Inspector Todd praised the work of his team and key partnerships with Maori Wardens, Victim Support, the Invercargill Community Patrol and Neighbourhood Support groups, as significant contributing factors to achieving the positive results for the Southland community.
Police are now regularly linking in with government agencies and Southland's City and District Councils in a much more collaborative approach to preventing crime and reducing victimisation.
For the Southland Area, the decrease in crime in 2013 means 610 fewer offences than last year which equates to fewer victims and safer communities.
"There continues to be significant decreases in alcohol-related offending in the Invercargill CBD and this is directly attributed to reduced licensed premise hours and Police-led crime prevention plans," says Inspector Todd.
Property damage decreased by 17% (1452 down to 1203), and public order offences such as disorderly or offensive conduct decreased by 14% (971 down to 834). Illicit drug offences increased by 2% (397 up to 406).
Burglary offences remained static at 724 offences, theft offences reduced by 16% or 316 less offences. Fraud offences increased by 42% (209 up to 296).
Inspector Todd says the marked increase in fraud was the result of three unrelated historic complex cases, however after thorough investigations the offenders were convicted demonstrating that Police take these matters seriously."
"Overall the Southland Police team is very proud of the results. We are fully committed to preventing crime in Southland and the last three year's results clearly demonstrate that our communities are actually safer and are feeling safer," he says.
Southern District results
Relieving Southern District Commander, Superintendent Richard Chambers says that the latest district-wide decrease in crime, the seventh consecutive decrease, reflects the work and commitment of Southern police staff.
In the year to 30 June 2013 total recorded crime reduced by 5.1% across Otago and Southland, a decrease of 1,133 recorded offences.
“This reduction in recorded offences also translates to fewer victims in our communities and means that we have fewer people who are suffering the negative impacts that crime can have both on individuals and on our communities.”
"We are also rating highly as a district in terms of the level of trust and confidence that Southern communities have in Police, demonstrating that many people in Southern not only are safe but feel safe, " he said.
"These latest crime figures continue to endorse the fact that we are directing our efforts in the right way, with a more targeted approach to tackling crime and a greater emphasis on preventing crime before it happens," he says.
"With the introduction of new systems over the past year, such as a centralised district file management centre and the mobility roll-out of I-Phones and I-Pads to staff - both aimed at reducing the burden of paper work on the frontline and getting more staff out on the streets - Southern is making even better gains in crime reduction and reducing victimisation in our communities," he says.
All three policing areas in Southern had contributed to the sustained decrease.
ENDS
Released by Southland Area Commander, Inspector Lane Todd