Police release crime stats, new family violence dataset "to be launched soon"

New Zealand Police have released crime statistics for the year ending 30 June 2014.

In relation to family violence offending, Police said:

"A new monthly crime dataset will soon be launched on the Statistics NZ website. The Recorded Crime Victimisation Statistics (RCVS) will include more detailed and useful information about victims and crime including age, ethnicity, and gender of victims. They will also provide insight into demographic attributes of victims including the relationship bet ween victim and offender. RCVS will provide better information and a more detailed picture of intimate partner violence, child assaults (physical & sexual) & elder abuse. The new statistics are counted differently to current official statistics and are not comparable."

Women's Refuge called for police to provide clearer data on domestic violence. Chief executive Heather Henare said she hoped the new data will "provide greater transparency" in police work.

"What we can say is that we are not noticing a reduction in the need for our services as we deal with both reported and unreported domestic violence," she said.

Ms Henare also raised the dropping percentage of family violence investigations where police lay any charges: in 2013, one or more charges were only laid at 37,880 of the 95,080 police family violence investigations (39.8%).

Media:

Clearer domestic violence stats needed – Women's Refuge, TV 3, 01.10.14

Crime drops by 3.2 % in the 2013 / 2014 financial year, Media release: NZ Police, 01.10.14