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A 15.8 per cent drop in family offences in Wairarapa during 2002 is welcome news, says MP Georgina Beyer.
The figure was contained in official 2002 crime statistics released by police this week.
The family offence category includes offences against the Children, Young Persons and their Families Act and covers areas such as care of children, custody, restitution orders and obstructing social workers.
During 2002, offences recorded in this category in Wairarapa numbered 64, compared with 76 in 2001.
The data also showed serious assault in the area fell to 200 cases from 208, and sexual attacks to 25 recorded incidents from 33 previously. Fraud fell 22.8 per cent to 98 last year from 127 cases in 2001.
A slight increase of 3.2 per cent in national recorded crime in 2002 should be kept in perspective, Police Minister George Hawkins says.
"While any increase in recorded crime is unwelcome, it has to be remembered crime rates per head of population have been trending down for some years," Mr Hawkins said.
Although the country's population had risen by 4.3 per cent in the last six years, recorded crime rates in the same period have dropped 7.8 per cent. In 1996 offending rates were 1274 per 10,000 head of population, compared with last year when the rate had fallen to 1112."
National resolution rates had also kept pace, with police solving 5458 more crimes in 2002 despite a rise in offences.
More information:
Karen Gibson
for Georgina Beyer
04 470 6682
Helen Corrigan
for George Hawkins
021 270 9131.
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