Canterbury Police Statistics 1 July 2003- 30 June 2004

Canterbury Statistics

1 July 2003- 30 June 2004

for full statistics see www.police.govt.nz

Canterbury statistics for the last year show a decrease in recorded crime and an increase in the resolution rate.

We are starting to see positive returns in the areas of theft ex car, and dwelling burglary says Superintendent Manderson.

“We’ve put our focus into new volume crime and tactical squads to focus on burglary and theft ex cars,” she says. “We have changed our Intelligence Units to give them greater capability to target burglary through increased staff numbers and training. This has started to have an affect in the last two months of the year. The downward trend appears to be continuing.”

Superintendent Manderson says that the focus this year has to be on youth crime. Latest figures show a continuing increase in burglary and theft ex car, and young people are the main offenders.

While burglary of dwellings went up over the last twelve months (02/03=4369, 03/04=4890) all other burglaries went down. It appears that several groups (mainly youths) have been committing a very high number of offences, targeting dwellings rather than other buildings. Car Unlawful taking is up 2% from last year, (02/03=2895,03/04=2962).

“We have an interagency policy to tackle youth crime,” says Superintendent Manderson. “Youths are the major car criminals in Canterbury for example, and we have got to resolve this.”

When there are youths as young as 10 admitting to, and being proud of, numerous car thefts, it is an indictment on our society she says.

“The recent operation which saw a number of youths charged with multiple offences should be a wake up call for the whole community. We will be targeting youths because we have got to resolve this,” she says. “There has to be more accountability for teenage behaviour.”

“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” Sandra Manderson says. “While the public may be unaware until they are personally affected, Police are seeing the results of youth crime every day.”

In the area of violent attacks, the overall total is up 2%, (02/03=2357, 03/04=2453) which is disappointing given a previous, steady trend downwards over previous years, says Superintendent Manderson. Serious Assaults are up (02/03 = 223, 03/04=282) but the resolution rate is also up from 74.9% to 79%. Minor Assaults are down, (02/03=1532, 03/04=1472) with the resolution rate still around 74%.

Superintendent Manderson says that the community and agencies need to work collaboratively to reduce crime in the community.

“We are all aware of the benefits of collaboration and joint problem solving and continue working together in a variety of ways on many issues. On our own we don’t have all the answers,” she says.

“We need to work closely together in planning, strategy development and implementation, and resource allocation, to achieve these joint outcomes. The recent extension of the Liquor Ban in Christchurch is a good example of Police and a local body working together.”

Liquor offences have been heading up since October last year when staff started to enforce the Christchurch City Council bans. From January – October 2003 the approach was more educational, with warnings given.

Canterbury District will continue to focus on Family Violence, Sandra Manderson says.

“We are alarmed at the number of incidents of Family Violence which does not seem to be reducing. Canterbury police attend on average about 400 Family Violence incidents each month in the district. We continue to work with other agencies and to be involved in programs to reduce this offence.”

Seven homicides in the first two months this year - plus other continuing investigations, stretched resources with the large number of staff involved, says Superintendent Manderson.

“Canterbury Police performed extremely well in the quick apprehension of offenders for all the homicides,” she says. “As is often the case, the majority of offenders were known to each other. The court cases continue.”

“Canterbury staff have had a full year,” says Superintendent Manderson. “They are to be commended for making use of new resources and beginning to turn crime trends around.”

Traffic

The number of fatal crashes in Canterbury has remained about the same as last year at 46 fatal crashes. Serious crashes stand at 249, minor injury at 899 and non injury crashes at 2,332.

A staggering 51% of rural crashes involved alcohol. However speed still remains the biggest killer on Canterbury roads says Superintendent Manderson.

"Twenty seven people died in the past 5 years due to travelling too fast for the conditions", she says. " The Canterbury Police, with the assistance of our partner agencies, intend to emphasise the message that alcohol impaired drivers will not be tolerated on our roads. Driving too fast for the conditions must be addressed through enforcement, the engineering of our roads, and environment conditions. This will be taken into account over the next twelve months.”