Violent crime jumps to all-time high

Violent crime has hit its highest level, after rising 8.6 per cent last year - the biggest increase for six years.

But Police Minister George Hawkins said the police statistics painted a "positive picture" because they showed a 2.5 per cent increase in the proportion of crimes being solved and a 1.9 per cent reduction in overall crime.

"Overall crime has dropped by 8068 offences to its lowest level since 1989-90 and the resolution rate has hit an all-time high of almost 43 per cent."

Violent crime made up 10.3 per cent of crime last year. A total of 43,534 reported offences fell into that category.

Mr Hawkins expressed concern that violent crime was rising but said the trend was not new.

Violent crime increased by between 0.4 and 1.1 per cent in the years 1996 to 1999 but dropped by 0.5 per cent in 1999-2000.

Police attributed the 8.6 per cent increase during the past year to less public tolerance of violent crime, increased nightlife, increased use of recreational drugs such as methamphetamines, more proactive policing and increased reporting of such crime through the use of cellphones.

Mr Hawkins said it was important to look at the makeup of the increase in violent offending. "Over half is accounted for by intimidation and threats ... and family violence.

"If New Zealanders are reporting and police are attending more violence in the home and more low-level violence, that may be an indication that the public have increasing confidence in police."

Asked whether he had failed as a minister, given the increase in violent crime under his leadership, Mr Hawkins said: "I think I've been one of the most successful ministers of police. We have the police now being far more proactive."

Burglaries fell 14.6 per cent during the past year, with 61,347 offences recorded.

"Burglary is a gateway to more serious offending and by refusing to tolerate burglary we are sending out the message, loud and clear, that it is not worth pursuing a criminal lifestyle."

It would take a number of years for the reduction in burglary to start having an impact on violent offending, Mr Hawkins said.

"I think violent crime will come down in the years ahead."

Justice Minister Phil Goff acknowledged the need to address violent offending and, in conjunction with the police statistics, released a new crime reduction strategy for public consultation.

The strategy aimed to prevent crime before it happened and reduce reoffending.

It establishes seven priority areas - family violence, sexual violence, burglary, theft of and from cars, serious traffic offending, organised crime and youth offending - under which interventions are directed at particular groups.

National police spokesman Tony Ryall blamed police cuts for the rise in violent crime.

"Under this Government the chances of getting mugged, bashed or raped are higher than they have ever been and the Government is doing nothing about it.

"Violent offenders know that the Government has cut back police numbers to save money and they know the chances of getting caught are getting lower and lower."

The Government's crime reduction strategy was nothing more than a desperate attempt to talk tough, knowing they had lost the battle, Mr Ryall said.

"The Government must make reducing violent crime a dual priority with domestic burglary."

Police Association President Greg O'Connor said the violent-crime statistics reflected a lack of resources and officers in that area.

- NZPA