Violent crime continues to rise

Violent crime in New Zealand continues to rise, largely driven by increasing family violence.

According to the crime figures for 2008, released by New Zealand Police today, violent crime rose by 5.2 per cent last year compared with a 12.3 per cent increase in 2007.

The greatest increases were Eastern (14.5 per cent), Waikato (11.8 per cent), Southern (10 per cent) and Canterbury (9.7 per cent).

In Waitemata, recorded violent crime dropped 1.1 per cent.

Assistant police commissioner Grant Nicholls said the overall increase was driven by recorded family violence, which increased by 12.4 per cent in the year.

It follows a 31.5 per cent increase in recorded family violence in 2007 after the roll-out of mandatory training for all frontline police staff in family violence investigation and risk assessment.

There were 109 homicides last year, compared with 88 in 2007, and 13 recorded family violence murders in 2008 compared with 15 in 2007, 16 in 2006, and a peak of 29 in 2005.

The homicide category includes attempted murder, illegal abortions, infanticide, accessory after the fact, aiding suicide and manslaughter.

"Any violent death is one too many as far as police are concerned," Mr Nicholls said.

Total recorded crime rose 1.2 per cent last year, in line with New Zealand's population growth over the same period.

There were 431,381 offences committed in 2008, compared with 426,380 in 2007.

Six districts recorded increases in crime, while six experienced a fall.

Auckland City recorded the biggest decrease, with 4 per cent fewer offences last year.

Police were pleased that the national rate for solving crime was the best it has been in a decade, at 46.7 per cent.

Resolution rates for violence continued to rise, with 81.8 per cent offences resolved.

Sexual offending rose by 3.3 per cent last year and continued to make up less than 1 per cent of recorded crime.

However, issues of under-reporting of sex crimes remained, Mr Nicholls said.

Drugs and anti-social offences increased 4.2 per cent, mostly on the back of a rise in recorded cannabis offences.

Offences for drugs involving amphetamines, ecstasy and fantasy-type substances continued to decline, down 4.6 per cent in 2008.

House burglaries were up 4.3 per cent, with only Waikato and Northland districts recording decreases.

- NZPA