The police's prevention first strategy is continuing to create positive results in the Southland policing area, achieving a further 5% crime reduction for the year to 30 June 2014 and a 53.9% resolution rate.
The number of recorded offences dropped from 7,038 in the year to 30 June 2013 to 6,684 in the year to 30 June 2014.
Southland Area Commander Inspector Lane Todd says the latest crime reductions continue to build on the positive results for the Southland community over the past four years.
"In the 2010 financial year Southland had 9,333 reported offences - the latest results mean a total crime reduction of 28% or 2,649 fewer reported offences since that time," he says.
Southland policing area has embraced the Police's national prevention first strategy which focuses on the five drivers of crime: families, road policing, youth, alcohol and organised crime.
Inspector Todd says: "Southland's police team is now fully focused on preventing crime. We have a much greater focus on victims with several prevention plans in place that concentrate our attentions 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 Southland, the decrease in crime in 2014 means 354 fewer offences compared with the last financial 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 prevention plans," says Inspector Todd.
The latest statistics show that there were six more robbery offences in Southland compared with the previous year, while sexual assaults remained static at 78 offences.
Property damage decreased by 6.7% (-80 offences), and public order offences such as disorderly or offensive conduct decreased by 20.5% (-171). Illicit drug offences decreased by 45.8% (-186).
Burglary offences increased 25% (+183 offences) while there were 11 fewer theft offences recorded in the latest statistics. The number of fraud offences decreased by 13.5% (-40 offences).
The increase in recorded burglary is believed to be largely a reflection of changed recording practices since the full implementation of the national recording standard under the crime reporting line during 2013. This effectively has meant the formation of a new baseline for recorded burglary as the full effect of changed recording practices is felt.
"Overall Southland Police staff are very proud of our results. We are fully committed to preventing crime in Southland and the last three year's results clearly demonstrate that our communities are safer and are feeling safer," Inspector Todd says.
Southern District results
The Southern Police District achieved a further 5% decrease in reported crime in the year to 30 June 2014. This builds on the 5.1% decrease in reported crime recorded in the previous year to 30 June 2013.
District Commander Superintendent Andrew Coster said the latest figures reflect the continued steady reduction in crime that has occurred in the district since 2009. “It is pleasing to see this sustained reduction,” Superintendent Coster said.
“This is due, in no small part, to the hard work and professionalism of our own Police staff and our partner agencies that are absolutely committed to making our communities safer.”
“The Southern Police District is already one of the safest places in the country to live and visit and our goal is to make it even safer. Over the past year Southern has made some great gains and we're now in a position that many of the important structures that support our district prevention activities, such as the district command centre, are fully up and running. The command centre provides great support to our policing areas in terms of directing prevention activities and targeting crime. The realignment of our intelligence functions will also ensure that we increase the timeliness and relevance of the information that we're able to draw on to target the criminal activity and underlying drivers that cause harm in our communities."
Superintendent Coster said he is proud of the Police staff who have contributed to the ongoing success of the Southern Police district and says the district is going from strength to strength in terms of the progress being made to keep the community safe. " As well as our police work we have some fantastic partnerships with our community and other agencies that make a significant contribution to the gains we've been making and will continue to make."
ENDS
Released by Southland Area Commander, Inspector Lane Todd
Media inquiries: to Inspector Lane Todd on 03 211 0400. Please ask to be put through to his cell phone.