Crimes involving illicit drugs and synthetic cannabinoids still appear to be an issue for Dunedin and Clutha police, despite an overall 4.4% reduction in reported crime in the area.
Newly released data from Statistics New Zealand showed the 4.4% reduction corresponded to more than 429 fewer offences, down from 9685 offences in the 2011-12 fiscal year to 9256 offences in 2012-13.
However, robberies had increased 100% to 38 reported offences, many of which related to robberies of shops to obtain synthetic cannabinoids.
There had also been a 24% increase in illicit drug offences.
Dunedin Clutha Area Commander Inspector Greg Sparrow said there had been several arrests made in relation to synthetic cannabinoid robberies and the alleged offenders were either before the court or had been dealt with.
Acting Area Commander Acting Inspector Darryl Lennane said the rise in illicit drug offences was related to several successful operations targeting dealers and organised crime groups.
Insp Sparrow said a critical area of focus had also been the misuse of alcohol.
The number of reported burglaries reduced by 14% from 859 to 738, while theft and related offences had also decreased 15% to 2582 recorded offences.
Insp Sparrow said the 4.4% reduction in crime was a great result for the community, police and key partner agencies.
The area had now embedded a preventive policing model which allowed police to put the needs of victims at the forefront of policing. Recorded crime has also continued to fall in Queenstown Lakes, Central Otago and Waitaki.
Despite a 24% increase in sexual assault and related offences (six additional offences) and a 5% increase in public order offences, Otago Rural relieving Area Commander Inspector Andrew Burns said the total number of recorded offences in the year to June 30, 2013 was down 2% to 4706.
Burglary and related offences fell by 7.2% and theft-related offences fell by 9.3%.
The Southland Policing Area recorded an 8% decrease in crime, helping to drive a 5.1% total decrease in crime throughout Otago and Southland.
Relieving Southern District Commander Superintendent Richard Chambers said it was the seventh consecutive reduction in crime statistics for the Southern Police District.
He said the introduction of new systems over the past year, such as a centralised district file management centre and the mobility roll-out of iPhones and iPads to staff - both aimed at reducing the burden of paper work on the front line and getting more staff out on the streets - had enabled Southern police to make even greater gains in crime reduction.
Nationwide, the crime rate fell by 7.4% and the number of recorded incidents dropped in 10 of the 12 police districts.
Reported offences
Dunedin/Clutha (4.4% decrease)
2011-12: 9685
2012-13: 9256
Otago Rural (2% decrease)
2011-12: 4800
2012-13: 4706
Southland (8% decrease)
2011-12: 7648
2012-13: 7038
New Zealand (7.4% decrease)
2011-12: 394,522
2012-13: 365,185
