The presence of more Wanaka police over the past 18 months has led to a 45% surge in reported crime, the town's top community police officer says.
However, the upwards trend in reported crime figures should not come a surprise, Wanaka's community policing team leader, Sergeant Aaron Nicholson, told Wanaka Community Board members at a meeting yesterday.
An increase in police numbers - six in the case of Wanaka - being mirrored by an increase in reported and investigated incidents of crime was consistent with similar situations around New Zealand, he said.
Sgt Nicholson said his verbal report contained "only indicative figures" which had yet to be verified.
The 45% increase in the number of total reported crime incidents was considered to be "not a lot".
Alcohol-related incidents continued to dominate the statistics and account for about 60% of all reported crime.
Police resolved about 50% of reported crimes, a figure he considered "usual" and which had remained relatively stable.
Minor burglaries were up 40% and were influenced by a recent surge in holiday home break-ins.
Reports of "public place" violence were up 60% and attributed to a rise in awareness and increased reporting from bystanders.
Vandalism had risen by about 60%, while disorder was up 16%.
