Crime at its lowest in 20 years

The number of crimes recorded in the past year is the lowest in more than two decades.

Police figures show recorded offences dropped 5.2-percent, from more than 416,000 to 394,500.

When New Zealand's population increase is taken into account, police say it actually results in a 5.9-percent decrease - the lowest since the 1988/89 year.

Deputy Police Commissioner Viv Rickard says the figure indicates that New Zealand is becoming a safer place to live.

The largest decrease was in the Canterbury District, where recorded crime fell by 11.7 percent.

While overall crime in Canterbury is down, the murder rate more than tripled from the last release of statistics.

Among the crimes to see a large decline were breaking and entering down from over 7,000 to 5,500 and assaults down from 3,700 to 3,500.

However the number of murders rose substantially, from 3 in last period to 10.

The rise in Auckland's crime rate is causing political concern.

The district's recorded crime rate increased by 5.4 percent in the last financial year.

Labour MP Kris Faafoi says it's a rise that can't be ignored, even if the national crime rate has fallen.

"That should be a concern for the police and the government, especially given that a fair bit of resource has been pumped into that area to crack down on crime. But things seem to be going in a direction most people in central Auckland won't be happy with."

Meanwhile, the Police Minister's promising a focus on frontline policing will continue.

It comes following the release on latest crime statistics today.

Anne Tolley says the figures reflect excellent work by police, and she's crediting their increased visibility via neighbourhood policing teams and increased use of technology.

She says the new way of working will continue to proactively prevent crime rather than react after offences have been committed.

Photo: NZ Herald