By ALAN PERROTT
Otara's image as a high-crime zone is an urban myth, judging by new police statistics.
Figures released by South Auckland police show Otara is the safest suburb in Manukau City and about average for the Auckland region.
In the year to date, Otara has had 901 reported crimes, compared with
Police Minister George Hawkins' suburb of Manurewa, which was highest with 2307.
Behind Manurewa is Papakura with 1711, followed by Mangere with 1502 and Howick-Pakuranga-Beachlands, 1365.
The figures show the highest number of reported crimes involved dishonesty or violence. Manurewa was the worst in both categories.
Otara Senior Sergeant Trevor Church is happy with the improvement he has seen in Otara over the past three years, but said the figures would still be average compared with the rest of the Auckland region.
"Everybody has the same problems. Whatever we've been doing has been lowering the crime rate here, but you've got to hand it to the community, they have been pushing these things hard."
Otara Enterprise spokesman Jim Sinclair said the statistics were just reward for the community effort.
"This proves Otara isn't about poor housing and high crime."
But the improvement is no surprise to Otara councillor Len Brown.
"Our community has done a lot of maturing after a long period of extraordinary growth. The attitudes of people living outside Otara and the reality of the situation are now two different things."
Manurewa community constable Rob Lamoto said part of the problem for his area lay with the Neighbourhood atch network.
Although the street groups were operating, there was a lack of coordination and enthusiasm.
Constable Lamoto has called a meeting of all street coordinators on July 17 to address the problem.
