Police have released a list of 10 Western Bay women on the run from police as the proportion of women convicted of crimes continues to rise.
Western Bay of Plenty police Inspector Karl Wright St-Clair said police were looking for the 10 women featured on the list and urged them to hand themselves in before the law caught up with them.
"In general terms women are less likely to be involved in violent offending as the offender so that's reflective of the types of offences we come into contact with women for."
One woman was wanted for assault and one for wilful damage but four were wanted on driving charges.
Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Campion said it was not uncommon for those wanted on warrants to be facing traffic matters.
Statistics New Zealand records show the number of people convicted for crimes in the Tauranga court cluster has decreased during the past five years but the proportion of women convicted has risen steadily.
In 2012 24.3 per cent of the people convicted were women, up from 23 per cent in 2010 and 22 per cent in 2008.
Tauranga criminal defence lawyer Rachael Adams said those she worked with had also noticed a slow but steady rise.
"Anecdotally everybody has got the feeling that women are appearing [in court] in greater numbers. This has probably been something that has gradually been increasing for some years."
The greater role women play in the community and the increasing number of solo mothers could be behind the trend, she suggested.
"They are taking all the burden on their own."
The pressure of raising children and providing for the family financially may be taking its toll and pushing women towards drugs, alcohol and crime. The flow on effects were huge, Ms Adams said.
"There's the major detrimental effect on the family if mum's in trouble. The children are going to bear the brunt of that."
When mothers found themselves in trouble with the law it often created an unstable home environment. In the worst instance mothers could receive a prison sentence which would leave the children without parents, she said.
Clinical psychologist Hans Laven agreed the increasing proportion of women being convicted of crime largely came down to the change in their place in society.
"They are no longer anywhere near as constrained in their roles as they used to be."
As for why people decide to run from police: "From my experience people tend to know they are likely to get caught eventually but it's largely fear driving them.
"They don't want to deal with the consequences."
Wanted women:
Arlene Teatapo Rouse, 29
Wanted on three charges relating to driving with excess breath alcohol and failing to answer district court bail since March 26, 2013.
Jessica Rose Ruscoe, 19
Wanted for wilful damage since March 1, 2013.
Alisha Daniels, 25
Wanted for breaching supervision orders since March 7, 2013.
Awatea Manilla Nepata, 24
Wanted on two charges for breaching community work since March 14, 2013.
Jessica Ann Margaret Jones, 29
Wanted for assault since March 15, 2013.
Bonnie Maemaeroa Rahipene, 35
Wanted for three driving offences since April 14, 2013.
Fiona Maria Johnson, 43
Wanted for two driving offences since May 3, 2013.
Crystal Nannette Wallis, 31
Wanted on three charges relating to driving and dishonesty offences since April 29, 2013.
Miriam Karin Moser, 31
Wanted for dishonesty offences since May 31, 2013.
Emma Maria Hulsdouw, 27
Wanted for a review of her sentence for dishonesty offences since May 13, 2013.
