‘Formidable challenges’ facing the police

Press, 11 September 1986, Page 6

‘Formidable challenges’ facing the police

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

“An avalanche of crime” is how the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ken Thompson, describes the situation facing the police. In his annual report to Parliament, he said the police faced formidable challenges. Increasing crime statistics over the last decade made chilling reading and emphasised again that the public and Government agencies had to strive harder to reverse the trend.

A generation ago New Zealand had been proud

to have one of the lowest crime rates in the world, Mr Thompson said. In the 76 years between 1878 and 1954, reported crime had increased 263 per cent; in the 29 years since 1956, crime had increased 476 per cent to 435,640 reported cases in 1985. During the last 30 years the workload per police officer had increased almost 300 per cent, he said. Lesser matters could not get full attention and that had been reflected in the success rate. The 1985 clearance rate of 41.9 per cent for all offences was the lowest

since 1956. Even so, it was a lot better than overseas rates; for example, in London in 1984, the overall clear-up rate had been 17 per cent. While the figures clearly indicated complicated and deep-seated problems within society needing to be addressed by everyone, there should not be too much pessimism, Mr Thompson said. Only a relatively small number of people committed crime, but a distinct pattern of reoffending was emerging within that group. The trends indicated a significant

proportion of crime was committed by offenders who reoffended time and time again. “The increasing violence in our communities is in particular of grave concern,” he said. "Violence and a lack of tolerance of others can be seen on all sides and demonstrate a crying need for people to change their attitudes to others. “The frequent arrogance and aggression on the roads and in our daily dealings is an alarming national trait and rubs off on our youngsters,” Mr Thompson said.