Latest Police Crime Statistics Show Increased in Family Violence

The latest Police crime statistics show an increase in the number of recorded cases of domestic violence and sexual offences.

Domestic violence offences increased 3.4% since 2005, and make up 37% of all violent offences. Sexual offences have increased 9.7%.

The overall rate of recorded crime has increased 4.1% since 2005, however the Minister of Police, Annette King maintains that this increase is due to technical changes in the way crime is recorded and actually there has been a small decreased in recorded crime.

Ms King said that “Police efforts to encourage people to report family violence is paying off, and we are now seeing a truer picture emerging of a real cancer in our society.” The Minister urges people to report crimes of domestic violence and sexual offences to the Police.

The 2006 Crime Statistics, including national and regional data, can be accessed from http://www.police.govt.nz/service/statistics/2006/calendar/ or from Statistics New Zealand at http://www.stats.govt.nz/products-and-services/table-builder/crime-table...