New Police data set focuses on victims
Sun 14 Dec 2014
New Zealand Police have developed a new data set on crime victimisation, Recorded Crime Victims Statistics (RCVS). The new data set makes available ...
New Zealand Police have developed a new data set on crime victimisation, Recorded Crime Victims Statistics (RCVS). The new data set makes available the demographics of victims of crime including age, gender and ethnicity. The new data set is broken down by reported victimisations, rather than offences.
Importantly for family violence, the new data set captures the relationship between victims and offenders, for example whether whether the offender was a partner, ex-partner, parent etc. However some key offences including breach of protection order, wilful damage and threats to kill have not been included. Police may consider adding these to the data set in the future.
The first data in the new dataset was released on 28 November 2014. It shows the first four months of data collected. There will be no release of data in December 2014. From 30 January 2015, the data set will be updated on the last working day of each month. The data is available on the Statistics NZ website.
The New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse will include data from the new data set in the next update of the Data Summaries, to be published in June 2015.
In 2015, another data set, the Recorded Crime Offenders Statistics (RCOS), will be launched to complement the RCVS. When both the RCVS and RCOS are operational and embedded, they will supersede the current twice-yearly release of crime statistics. The last release of the current crime statistics is expected to be April 2015. Police will publish an annual report on the data in June or July.
Superintendent Dave Trappitt from NZ Police said, "This new data-set reflects the importance that Police place on victims and aligns with our Prevention First strategy. It will provide a frequent and up-to-date picture of victims in our communities. The RCVS will provide both Police and the public with more information about victims than we have had before."
Police worked with Statistics New Zealand to develop the new data set. Superintendent Trappitt said the new statistics address recommendations made by Statistics NZ in their Review of Crime and Criminal Justice Statistics (2009).
Police have provided a briefing document with more information about the RCVS.
A user manual on the RCVS is also available.
Media
Younger men use violence, Domininon Post, 18.12.2014
Maori women most likely to be targets for assault, Gisborne Herald, 15.12.14
Maori women most likely to be assault victims: stats, Stuff, 10.12.14
Crime stats go online for all to see, Dominion Post, 29.11.2014
Concerns over lack of accountability in new crime stats system, One News, 28.11.2014
Crime statistics create picture of victims, Dominion Post, 28.11.2014
Police to collect data on crime victims, NZ City, 26.11.2014
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