Chch streets to be cleared of thugs—police

Press, 5 March 1987, Page 2

Chch streets to be cleared of thugs —police

By

JEFF HAMPTON

Thugs will be cleared from the streets of Christchurch, according to the city’s new police chief, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Emmett Mitten.

Citizens had the right to feel safe on the streets any time of the day, said Mr Mitten, who started work in Christchurch on Monday. "It is the right of citizens to go out any hour of the day without being brutalised by thugs,’; he said.

“Barbaric happenings on the streets will not be tolerated.” He denied that the police had gangs in mind, but said that the police would take action against anyone who broke the law.

Senior Christchurch police officers will meet in the next fortnight to discuss strategies.

Mr Mitten also called for the support of the community for the police in the crack-down on crime. The police also needed the help of other agencies, including the Judiciary. Violence against the police will also not be tolerated.

“I am going to do everything in my power to stop my staff from being abused, harassed, and harangued,” said Mr Mitten. He said that he was concerned when he heard of incidents such as the wild party at Ashburton at the week-end, which had to be broken up by the Christchurch team policing unit. Considerable police resources were tied up by

the party because of the “unreasonable behaviour” of party-goers. Nevertheless, the nine policemen who went faced “horrific odds” when they tried to control the 200 party-goers.

Mr Mitten asked for community support of police action when faced with problems such as the party.

Serious crime in Christchurch last year tied up much police manpower, resulting in a low clearance rate of offences, said Mr Mitten.

Much time was also spent going to premises where burglar alarms had sounded, domestic disputes, and investigating reports of suspicious activity. The police have since changed their policy on attending burglar alarms and will go only if called by a security firm. This is expected to lead to better use of police manpower.

Mr Mitten also said that Police National Headquarters would look “very favourably” at a staff increase for Christchurch in the light of the latest crime figures.

Police crime statistics for Christchurch show that there were almost 53,230 offences in the city last year, compared with 52,950 for 1985.

Christchurch had the lowest police clearance rate in New Zealand at 37.7 per cent, but was closely followed by Auckland at 37.8 per cent.

The biggest increases were shown in drug offences, including cannabis, and armed robberies.

The offence statistics had shown Christchurch in a poor light, said Mr Mitten. “In Christchurch the staff have been heavily committed to investigating serious crime, such as murder.” he said.

Up to 50 staff would be tied up in murder in-

quiries. Investigations did not end when someone was arrested. Christchurch had 12 murders last year, up one on 1985, and all were “cleared.”

The biggest single increase was in drug offences other than cannabis which rose more than 110 per cent, from 139 in 1985 to more than 290 last year. The police have attributed the rise to the increased number of “home-bake” laboratories which have been set up, and more effort has been made to detect them. Cannabis offences increased almost 30 per cent, from 980 in 1985 to more than 1260 last year.

Almost 150 robberies were reported to the police last year, which was an increase of more than 13 per cent on 1985, when 130 were reported.

The clearance rate for robberies last year was 40 per cent, compared with 47 per cent in 1985. The number of rapes reported to the police last year was 42, a drop of two on 1985. Almost 80 per cent of the rapes were “cleared” last year.

Crimes of violence and burglaries decreased slightly last year.

More than 2600 crimes of violence were reported to the police last year, compared with 2624 in 1985.

Burglaries dropped about 2 per cent; last year just over 10,000 burglaries were reported in Christchurch, compared with 10,260 in 1985.

Car conversion and crimes of dishonesty rose last year, compared with the figures for 1985. Almost 5100 vehicles were taken last year, compared with almost 4900 in 1985, a rise of more than 4 per cent. Crimes of ’ dishonesty, such as false pretence, increased 3 per cent from 37,900 in 1985 to 38,950 last year.