Counties Manukau sees crime reduction of 2.8%

Counties Manukau District recorded a total of 50,228 offences during the 2011 calendar year. The result is a reduction of 1436 offences from the 2010 calendar year following a reduction of 4377 offences between 2009 and 2010.

Counties Manukau has actualised the benefits of the Prevention First Strategy over the last 12 months by focusing on the five drivers of crime, effecting the 2.8% reduction in recorded offences.

Counties Manukau District Commander, Superintendent John Tims says, "The prevention first strategy focuses on targeted policing to reduce offending and victimisation. Over the past two years we have introduced prevention focused teams, including Neighbourhood Police Teams and Public Safety Teams. We also concentrate on preventing people from becoming repeat victims, repeat offenders and for crimes to stop taking place in repeat locations. Focusing on victims and our service delivery has helped us see improvements throughout the business."

Public order offences decreased by 11.5%. Within this Public Order category, disorderly and offensive conduct offences decreased by 10.8% and 32.6% respectively. This result comes from rostering to reduce demand; it's about being in the right place at the right time, preventing crimes from occurring.

Acts intended to cause injury offences have reduced by 10.4% since 2010 decreasing from 6864 offences to 6152 offences and Property damage offences reduced by 8.5 percent during the same time.  Harassment and threatening behaviour decreased by 19% and the number of recorded fraud offences reduced by 13.2 per cent.

"These results are an achievement for Counties Manukau. It's not just a success for Police but the community too. Working together with the public and our partners is the only way we can maintain these great results. Engaging the community and making sure they are aware of the challenges we face is critical. They then understand where they fit in and how they can help. We are currently receiving a lot more information from the public through intelligence processes and services like Crimestoppers." said Mr Tims.

Crime type offence rates per 10,000 population figures illustrates a positive trend since 2008 calendar year where total crime has reduced 7.6%, serious assaults resulting in injury by 25.9% and Burglary by 19.7%.