Rate of Increase in Reported Family Violence Down

The NZ Police have released the 2009/2010 fiscal year crime statistics.

The statistics for the 2009/2010 fiscal year show family violence assaults increased by 8.5% from the previous year, however the rate of increase has slowed compared to 2007/08 (28.1%) and 2008/09 (13.1%). The figures show 54,104 family violence offences compared to 48,389 recorded in 2008/09, an increase which is linked to greater reporting of family violence as a result of increased community awareness.

The figures also show a large increase in murders which can be linked to family violence: 35 for 2009/2010 compared to 23 for the previous fiscal year.

For the first time, the fiscal year offences are grouped according to the Australian Standard Offence Classification (ASOC) for grouping offence codes. The move does not change the total number of offences recorded, just how they are grouped

For further information see:
NZ Police media release and statistics
http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/25629.html