Big reductions in robberies, fraud, thefts, murders and drugs offences have helped to see a drop in Rotorua's overall reported crime during the past year.
But figures released yesterday also show a big rise in burglaries, with more than 300 offences being reported during the past year.
Police National Headquarters yesterday released the latest crime statistics for the year ending June 30. Rotorua's overall reported crime has gone down by 5.6 per cent, or 641 fewer offences.
Key reductions were seen in murders and related offences, down from seven in the 2009 to 2010 year, to four in the past year. Robbery, extortion and other related offences were down 40 per cent from 60 offences to 36. There was also a big drop of 51 per cent in fraud, deception and related offences from 253 offences to 123 offences.
Illicit drug offences were down 10 per cent from 664 offences to 594 offences and public order offences were down 19 per cent from 1714 offences to 1383 offences. Thefts were also down 5 per cent from 3253 offences to 3084 offences.
However, the reductions were offset by a big increase in unlawful entry and burglary offences, up 20 per cent, rising from 1638 to 1967 offences.
Rotorua area commander Inspector Bruce Horne said police would continue to focus on reducing violence.
"Alcohol is a factor in a significant proportion of violent offences so police will also continue to have a focus on all types of alcohol-related offending."
He said the high incidence of family violence and child abuse was disappointing, but not surprising.
"Historically this type of offending has often been kept a secret by families and neighbours - and that same veil of secrecy has made investigating those sorts of crimes very challenging.
"However, as communities become more aware of the prevalence and seriousness of these sorts of crimes - and more people steel themselves to take a stand and speak out against this sort of offending - more offences are being reported to police."
He said police success in prosecuting family violence and child abuse cases had improved significantly over recent years, with Bay of Plenty Police achieving some of the best outcomes in New Zealand.
There were other total recorded crime reductions in Taupo and the Western Bay, but the figures for total recorded crime rose in the Eastern Bay.
The Bay of Plenty saw an overall recorded crime reduction of 4.8 per cent.
A total of 38,175 offences were recorded for the Bay, a decrease of 4.8 per cent or 1904 offences down on the previous year.
Bay of Plenty's resident population rose 1.1 per cent in the same period and when this is taken into account, the total crime rate dropped 5.8 per cent.
Bay of Plenty District Commander Superintendent Glenn Dunbier said the figures showed inroads in some key crime areas, but also reflected ongoing work to be done.
There were fewer murders and related offences in the Bay of Plenty during the previous year with the figures dropping from 18 to 8. The figure of 8 is made up of two murders (down from 11 in the Bay the previous year), three manslaughter/driving causing death offences and three attempted murder offences.
There were several reductions in recorded crime groups across the Bay of Plenty including acts intending to cause injury, abduction and harassment, robbery and extortion, fraud and deception, prohibited and regulated weapons and explosives offences and property damage and environmental pollution.
Mr Dunbier said there had been a slight drop in recorded family violence offences, dropping 1.6 per cent - down 84 from 5322 to 5238.
"In the past 18 months we have placed a high focus on our victims, and a particular emphasis on our most vulnerable people, including children and those subject to violence, including family violence. This focus will continue in the future."
Mr Dunbier said he was pleased to see a decrease in disorder, with tools such as liquor bans having a positive impact on policing in cental business districts.
There were three crime areas to increase. These include sexual assaults and related offences - rising 77 offences to 297, dangerous or negligent acts endangering people, rising 14.1 per cent from 64 to 73 offences and unlawful entry with intent/burglary/break and enter, rising 10.7 per cent or 546 offences to 5653.
"Burglary remains a priority area for us, and there are key initiatives under way across the district in an effort to address burglary offending, including truancy programmes, Snap (serial number action partnership) and working with electronics retailers to provide safety information to their customers."
"We expect these initiatives to make a positive impact on burglaries across the board."
Mr Dunbier said there had been a drop in the number of family violence offences coming to police attention.
"We know, however, that family violence is under reported and encourage people to tell us about it.
"Family violence is still not okay, and we need every member of the community to work with police and other agencies to help reduce the incidents of family violence."