Search

Official statistics for June 2016 have been released by Statistics New Zealand today, completing the first two years’ of comparable data under the new method of reporting crime statistics.

In July 2014 Police introduced the Recorded Crime Victimisation and Recorded Crime Offender (RCVS and RCOS) statistics.

The new method provides for more open and transparent data and brings New Zealand’s data in line with other countries, including the United Kingdom and Australia.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins has congratulated the 22 graduates who today started their new roles as Corrections Officers.

“Corrections is undergoing a major recruitment drive and it is heartening to see so many high quality recruits joining the Department of Corrections’ frontline.

Police Minister Judith Collins has congratulated New Zealand Police on its success at last night’s IPANZ Public Sector 2016 Excellence Awards.

New Zealand Police was the winner in ‘building trust and confidence in government’, as a result of its ongoing initiative Enhancing Trust and Confidence through culture change at NZ Police.

“Earning public trust and confidence goes to the heart of New Zealand Police and the work it does to keep our communities safe.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins will discuss issues of common interest with her Australian counterparts in Wellington this week.

Ms Collins will attend the Corrective Services Ministers' Conference, which is being hosted by New Zealand on 7-8 July.

The Conference brings together all Australian state, territory, and New Zealand ministers responsible for correctional services.

Mr Mike Bush has been reappointed as the Commissioner of Police, Police Minister Judith Collins announced today.

“Mike Bush is a highly respected leader who has achieved a lot during his term as Police Commissioner and I am very pleased that he will continue leading the men and women who work to keep our communities safe.

“His focus will be on modernising the police workforce, and building a more open and inclusive culture to deliver a world class police force that better reflects the communities they serve,” Ms Collins said.

The new Police Family Violence Information Disclosure Scheme is providing victims and potential victims with the information they need to leave potentially dangerous situations, Police Minister Judith Collins says.

A total of 38 cases have been referred to the scheme since it was launched in December 2015.

A request for the disclosure may be made to the Police by the partner of the potentially violent person, or a concerned third party.

Ministers today welcomed a new pilot in Christchurch which aims to ensure families experiencing family violence are safe and receive the services they need to prevent further harm.

At the heart of the new approach are government agencies and NGOs working together for families and whānau to provide increased support to high-risk victims, better manage perpetrators and improve collaboration between agencies.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins says prisons are safer and healthier since smoking was banned five years ago today.

On 1 July 2011, tobacco products, matches and lighters became unauthorised items in New Zealand prisons.

“I was Minister of Corrections at the time and I asked Corrections to ban smoking in prisons because I was deeply concerned about both the health risks of second-hand smoke and the safety risks of lighters and matches.

Police are committed to improving resolution rates and reducing the number of burglaries, says Police Minister Judith Collins.

Ms Collins was commenting on the official crime statistics for the month of May, released by Statistics New Zealand today, which show the national burglary rate increased by 11.9 per cent for the 2015/16 financial year to May 2016 when compared to the same period last year.

Corrections Minister Judith Collins today officially opened the refurbished Panmure Community Corrections site in Jellicoe Road, Auckland. 

The refurbishment of the Panmure site is part of a five-year nation-wide renewal programme to make Community Corrections’ sites more secure, and better equipped to keep staff and visitors safe while supporting offenders.

The Panmure site has a new-look reception area with improved safety features, including closed-circuit camera surveillance, duress alarms, and better lines of sight.

Police Minister Judith Collins today welcomed 53 new Police Officers in the Dr Helen Anderson QSO recruit Wing 297.

Ms Collins congratulated the Constables and wished them the best while they celebrate with family and friends today at the attestation parade of Wing 297 at the Royal New Zealand Police College, Porirua.

“The passing out or ‘attestation’ marks the beginning of a challenging and rewarding career for the new officers. 

Corrections Minister Judith Collins has acknowledged around 1800 volunteers who donate hours of their time in prisons and community corrections sites to help offenders turn their lives around.

“National Volunteer Week is a time to recognise these selfless people who give up their time to help offenders learn skills and reconnect with their communities,” says Ms Collins.

The theme of Volunteer Week 2016 is “Thanks for making time”. It runs from 19 to 25 June.

A Northland family in need is about to get their own home as the third house built by Northland prisoners was lifted over the wire today, Corrections Minister Judith Collins says.

“Prisoners built the house in partnership with Habitat for Humanity and today it will be transported to Whangarei so a family in need can move in.

Police Minister Judith Collins and Customs Minister Nicky Wagner today congratulated the local community, Northland Police and Customs for the record-breaking methamphetamine seizure in Kaitaia yesterday.

“The seizure of 448 kilos of methamphetamine yesterday was the result of locals witnessing suspicious behaviour, reporting it to Police and Police acting on it.

Corrections will receive close to $14 million from the Justice Sector Fund to enable it to purchase mental health services for offenders in prison and in the community over the next two years.

Police has also received funding to enhance information sharing on mental health, says Corrections and Police Minister Judith Collins.

The number of people going on to re-offend after completing a sentence has decreased by 25 per cent from 2011, Corrections Minister Judith Collins said today.

“This is excellent progress, and I’m very proud of the hard work the Department of Corrections has done to get to this point. Reducing re-offending is hugely important because less crime means fewer victims and safer communities.”

Corrections aims to reduce re-offending by 25 per cent by 2017.  As of December 2015, the rate of re-offending has fallen by 6.8 per cent since 2011. 

Corrections Minister Judith Collins today welcomed 17 new recruits to the Department of Corrections’ frontline.

“If we are to achieve our goal of reducing reoffending, we need dedicated and passionate staff who are exemplary role models,” says Ms Collins.

“Over their 12 months of training the new recruits have certainly shown this, as they learn tactical training, de-escalation techniques and motivational tools, to ensure that they are well equipped to join the Corrections team.”

Preventing and investigating burglaries is a key priority for Police says Police Minister, Judith Collins.

Ms Collins was commenting on the latest monthly crime data released by Statistics New Zealand today which show burglary offences across the country was the major contributing factor to an increase in victimisations accounting for nearly two thirds of the increase.

In the first ten months of this fiscal year (July 2015 to April 2016) Police recorded 10,301 more victimisations than the same period last year, this equates to a 3.2 per cent increase.

Corrections has increased its focus on rehabilitation of women prisoners, with Auckland Region Women’s Corrections Facility (ARWCF) delivering 682 rehabilitative interventions this financial year to date compared with a total of 357 last year, Corrections Minister Judith Collins says.

“Women at ARWCF deal with a range of challenges. Many of them enter prison with alcohol and drug-related dependence. Some women are victims of abuse, and many battle with anti-social behaviour, self-harm practices, and mental health problems.

Budget 2016 demonstrates the Government’s continued commitment to preventing and reducing crime, with Police receiving an extra $299.2 million primarily for pay increases, Police Minister Judith Collins says.

“Since June 2011 the crime rate has fallen by 16 per cent, resulting in over 53,000 fewer crimes. Police are continuing to deliver good outcomes for New Zealanders,” Ms Collins says.

New operating funding of $355.6 million over the next four years will ensure that Corrections can cope with a rising prison population, maintain public safety and reduce reoffending, Corrections Minister Judith Collins says.

Despite progress in reducing crime and improving public safety, the number of prisoners has increased faster than expected. The prison population exceeded 9,400 in April and is forecast to reach 9,800 by December this year.

Organised crime has been hit hard by the forfeiture and restraint of the proceeds of crime, with new figures putting the preventative and disruptive impact on illegal operations at more than $1 billion.

“Since 2009 police have had the power to seize the proceeds of crime to reinforce the message that crime doesn’t pay and to boost the ability of our law enforcement authorities to combat it,” Police Minister Judith Collins says

Minister of Police Judith Collins today congratulated Police for the success of the 2015/16 National Cannabis and Crime Operation.

The six month long Police Operation, code-named “Operation Dee” resulted in the seizure and destruction of more than 130,000 cannabis plants and almost 80 kilograms of dried cannabis, totalling the second highest recovery rate of cannabis by Police in the last nine years.

173 firearms were also seized as a result of the operation, the largest number seized since the 2011/2012 operation.

An increasing number of offenders on community sentences are getting hands-on experience learning how to be “road safe” in an initiative aimed at reducing further offending, Corrections Minister Judith Collins says.