But with a steady supply of methamphetamine driving crime, there is still more work to do, the region’s top cop says.
Southland Police area commander Mike Bowman made the remarks during the public forum of the Invercargill City Council meeting last week.
The previous council had been focused on reducing retail crime but ‘‘to be honest we weren’t owning that very well’’, Mr Bowman said.
However, police had put into place a new initiative.
‘‘Now Southland is the showcase for the country around our focus, our programme around retail crime and I’m pleased to say we’ve recently held a public forum with our retail providers and we got all positive results.’’
More than 30 new staff members had been recruited in the past year.
This ‘‘gives us capacity to do some really positive stuff’’.
He commended the council for increasing CCTV coverage in the city and hoped to see a lowering of the crime rate as a result.
Gangs continued to be a focus for police after the success of 2023’s Operation Pakari where police targeted violent organised crime and gang-related offending, with a specific focus on the Mataura chapter of the Mongrel Mob.
But police needed to monitor the situation, he said.
‘‘We don’t want them to get a foothold in their community so we will continue to focus on them and any offending.’’
Methamphetamine supply and use remained high in Southland.
‘‘It’s the highest in the Southern District.
‘‘We know methamphetamine drives a lot of our crime so we need to be alive to that and target those high-end suppliers.’’
He was pleased with the quick arrest of those involved in violent crime in Queens Park which was encouraging for his staff, he said.
Police commissioner Richard Chambers wanted the organisation to achieve 80% regarding communities’ trust and confidence, Mr Bowman said.
‘‘Currently Southern is sitting at 74% which is the second-highest in New Zealand.’’
The commissioner also wanted to achieve a 15% reduction in public violence by 2028, a 15% increase in retail crime resolutions by 2027 and 80% service satisfaction by 2028.
‘‘We’re already sitting at 79% in Southern so that’s a really good start.’’
It was important police did not become distracted by issues that were outside their mandate, he said.
‘‘We can’t be everything to everyone and other agencies who should own that problem will need to stand up.’’
