What are the real Crime rates in New Zealand?

Kia Ora,

The NZ police have been recently releasing the crime rates in each district, but do they really show the real crime rates out there?

Frankly no & when pressed the police will admit that. For example the other day the police were talking about cannabis seizures & how the amount they seize is only a small proportion of that grown each year in New Zealand.

But at the end of the article is the most important part where it refers to how drug use is always featuring as a reason for crime.

Two days later though there were some interesting comments.

First was a headline first seen on the internet about the crime rate had fallen in Christchurch city.

When you read it though it is only talking about crime in the central city, not the city as a whole. Even then there is a comment about how the perception of the central city as dangerous is not reality. Perception is reality & most people get a feeling of danger in the central city. Not only that most crime is not reported.
Drugs, Society, and Human Behavior
As if to make that point in the local newspaper where that story was reproduced there were also other articles.

First three photo's of a brawl taking place near the central police station & in the background people of Christchurch doing the normal New Zealand thing & ignoring it as it has nothing to do with them.

This was in daylight. Most of the crime especially involving alcohol happens at night & more often than not is not reported or if it is as one person said when they did the reply they got was "what do you want us to do about it?"

If it is not reported it doesn't make the figures look bad. The police system has become a bureaucracy which must really rankle with those on the street who joined to make a difference. Between the system & the courts NZ Police must feel like they are getting no backing for the shitty job they do.
Hugs, Not Drugs T-Shirt, Funny T-Shirts, Medium
Another article the same day though warns of burlgars targeting empty homes after the earthquake here in Christchurch. Not just the damaged homes either.

Again there is comment though that there has been no rise in this type of crime since the earthquake just a change in focus.

Funny that as that is not word I am getting back from contacts in the NZ Security Industry here in Christchurch.

Also there is the comment from one burglary victim about how criminals seem to know police are busy. Being saying that for a while, in fact ever since the earthquake with the sudden rise again in boy racer activity. That started the night of the big quake & has slowly got back to levels at times seen before the wee shake.
Drugs and Society
Some of the items stolen though were asking to be stolen. Peole have still not learnt you do not leave items sitting unattended in a vehicle.

Some of the things I have seen left in vehicles is amazing & even more so when the vehicle has been insecure.

On security tasks we have had to warn people for leaving computers(desk top), laptops, passports, airline tickets, cheque books, any type of medication, sunglasses, cell phones & the list goes on. Often they also have left something in vehicle with their address so after they take the vehicle or items from the vehicle, their home might get a hurried visit as well.
Edge: Perspectives On Drug Free Culture
Then there was the small clipping with statistics regarding Crimestoppers the British scheme which has come to New Zealand which allows people to report crime anonymously after the fact usually.

Claim is it was a successful year with over 7200 calls. Police by their own count a few years back get 2.4 million calls a year but again it has been estimated up to 95% of crime is not reported. Not sure of the figure but it is known a lot of crime is not reported. You just happen to stumble across a lot as a security guard or police officer. Which then expose other previously unreported crime.
Drugs, Behavior, and Modern Society (6th Edition)
The idea of Crimestoppers is great but like policing these days tends only to be reacative not proactive.

It is getting to the stage to get the police to respond (even a former police officer joked about this the other day as they see it as a problem too) you have to do what someone in Britain did.

For those that are not aware this person rang the police & said "there is someone breaking into my garage/shed" reply was "sorry we have no one available."
They then rang back said "don't worry about it as I have just shot them" within minutes there were police everywhere & the burglar was caught. Police said "Thought you said you had shot him" their reply was "thought you said you had no one spare to respond."

http://www.foxhoundsecurity.co.nz