Sex offences up in Southern area

ndrew Coster.
ndrew Coster.
Sexual offences have risen to an 18-year high in the Southern district, latest police statistics show.

In the year ended June 30, 223 sexual assaults and other sexual offences were recorded in the Southern police district, up from 219 during the previous 12 months and the highest level since 232 were recorded in the year ended July 1996.

Almost two-thirds of those offences remain unresolved.

From July 2013 to June 2014, 209 sexual assaults were recorded in the Southern district, with 36.8% resolved, and 14 non-assaultive sexual offences were recorded, with 64.3% resolved.

Southern district commander Superintendent Andrew Coster said police would be looking at the resolution of sexual offences ''in more detail''.

''The statistical picture for this offence type can vary considerably, due to the potential for large numbers of offences linked to an individual case, particularly in instances of historical sexual offending,'' he said.

Jason Guthrie.
Jason Guthrie.
''We suspect it could be this kind of anomaly having a bearing on recorded crime in this area.''

Nationally, the resolution rate for sexual offences was 48.4% in the year ended June 2014, down from 54.4% for the previous 12 months.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said sexual offending was an area in which police were ''under considerable pressure''.

In many districts police had put more resources into investigating sexual offences, but a focus on preventive policing meant there was pressure on resources nationally.

''There's certainly no doubt about it, there are resourcing issues right around the response area of policing,'' he said.

''It's about trying to get that balance between response and preventive.''

Supt Coster said he was confident police were ''having a positive impact on reducing the impact that victimisation can have on people's lives''.

A spike was also seen in harassment offending in the district which he attributed to ''offences via electronic means''.

''Social media and cellphones have made it significantly easier to threaten others and, unfortunately, some people use this technology for that purpose. This is part of a wider national trend,'' he said.

Reported crime in the district decreased by 5%, which followed a 5.1% decrease in reported crime recorded in the previous year to June 2013.

''It is pleasing to see this sustained reduction,'' Supt Coster said.

''This is due, in no small part, to the hard work and professionalism of our own police staff and our partner agencies that are absolutely committed to making our communities safer.''

Dunedin Clutha Waitaki Area Commander Inspector Jason Guthrie said reported crime in the Dunedin Clutha Waitaki policing area fell by 5% in the year ended June 2014.

Lane Todd.
Lane Todd.
The drop showed the ''prevention first operating strategy'' was working.

''Dunedin continues to experience one of the lowest rates of burglary offending in the country and remains amongst the safest places in New Zealand to live and visit,'' Insp Guthrie said.

Otago Rural acting area commander Inspector Olaf Jensen said police in the area were ''preventing people from becoming victims''.

Recorded offences dropped 4.7% to 2980, down from 3126, and the area boasted the highest resolution rate in the district, with 56%.

Police in the area had ''innovative prevention strategies'', especially relating to alcohol harm, he said.

''This is playing a significant role in achieving continued crime reductions.''

Southland area commander Inspector Lane Todd said the 5% reduction in reported crime in Southland for the year ended June 2014 built ''on the positive results for the Southland community over the past four years''.

About 6700 offences were recorded in the area with 53.9% resolved.

''In the 2010 financial year Southland had 9333 reported offences. The latest results mean a total crime reduction of 28% or 2649 fewer reported offences since that time,'' he said.

Nationally, recorded offences dropped by 3.2 %.

There were 353,564 recorded offences from July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2014, compared with 365,185 in the previous 12 months. When adjusted for population growth, recorded criminal offences per head of population dropped by 4.1%.

''In real terms this means there are far fewer victims of crime than there were five years ago,'' Assistant Commissioner Grant Nicholls said.

Despite the reduction in reported crime, it was ''not a time to be complacent'', he said.

''There are still far too many victims of crime in New Zealand and police will continue to work hard to reduce offending even further.''

Nationally, homicide and related offences dropped by 16.7%, public order offences fell by 25.5%, property damage offences were down by 10.1% and illicit drug offences were down 10.2%.

Abduction, harassment and other related offences rose by 13%, unlawful entry, burglary and breaking and entering offences increased marginally, by 0.8%, and sexual assault and related offences were up 0.4%.

Police Minister Anne Tolley said the statistics showed ''police's focus on crime prevention is continuing to deliver results''.

A 20% drop in recorded crime since July 2009 was ''an outstanding achievement'', she said.

''In the last two years, police foot patrols have increased by 155%, and the rollout of smartphones and tablets to frontline staff has delivered over half a million additional crime prevention hours every year.''

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