Violent crime figures up

Press, 3 September 1982, Page 4

Violent crime figures up

PA Wellington Violent crimes, homicides, and burglaries all increased substantially in the first half of 1982, but the number of rapes dropped slightly, the Commissioner of Police, Mr R. J. Walton, announced yesterday. Pape figures fell from 125 in the first half of 1981 to 117. . “I realise this is only a small decrease, but it is the first time for several years that the rape figure has declined.” Mr Walton said. Total reported crime rose 4.3 per cent to 180,671 offences in the six months, but violent crimes showed an 8.6 per cent increase. The number of murders fell from 23 in 1981 to 15, but “homicides” over-all, including manslaughter and attempted murders, showed a 16.2 per cent increase. The police have cleared only slightly fewer crimes than last year — 81.560, 45.1

per cent of total offences, compared with 46 per cent in 1981. However, the police clearance of violent crimes has increased from 79:7 per cent in 1981 to 80.9 per cent this. year. Burglary was up 15.2 per cent and car conversion 11.5 -per cent on last year. Mr Walton said he was most concerned about the rise in burglaries, as in recent times they had been dropping, largely because of the Neighbourhood Watch scheme. He said the rise pointed to the continued need for people to take part in such schemes. A drop of 9.5 per cent occurred in drug and antisocial crime, Mr Walton said. The number of offences not involving cannabis dropped 19.9 per cent. However, there was a 17.6 per cent increase in cannabis-related offences. The clearance rate for drug and anti-social offences was 94.4 per cent.