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June 03, 2015 at 5:17 PM

A new dataset of crime statistics released for the first time today will provide better and more detailed information on people who commit crime in New Zealand.

The Recorded Crime Offenders Statistics (RCOS) published on the Statistics NZ website show the first 10 months of data collected on offenders.

They are a companion dataset to new victims statistics, released for the first time in November last year.  Both datasets will be published together at the end of each month from now on, replacing the old twice-yearly crime statistics.

Deputy Chief Executive: Strategy, Mark Evans, says together the offender and victimisation statistics will provide a much more detailed, current and accurate picture of crime and victimisation in New Zealand.

“These datasets put people at the centre of the count, rather than the number of offences and apprehensions.

This will give Police and other agencies much greater insight into who is committing crime, who is being victimised, the relationship between offender and victim, where the offending is taking place and how offenders are being dealt with.

“In keeping with our Prevention First strategy, this greater level of detail will enable us to target our interventions more effectively and help us prevent more crime and victimisation.

It will also contribute in-depth data to criminal justice sector policy and planning.”

The statistics provide a more complete picture of who is affected by crime in New Zealand.

A victim or an offender can be an individual or an organisation such as a business.

The RCOS figures include crimes that don’t have a clear victim, such as drug offences and serious traffic offences.

In developing the new offender statistics, Police worked collaboratively with Statistics NZ and drew on their expertise in managing data privacy and confidentiality.

The statistics address recommendations made by Statistics NZ in the Review of Crime and Criminal Justice Statistics 2009.

They also align to the Government’s stated intent that government departments are open and transparent, as well as bringing Police into line with the way other countries including the UK and Australia report their official statistics.

From now on, the offender and victimisation statistics will be updated on the last day of every month.

Mr Evans says this is an improvement on the old twice-yearly crime statistics, which were often seen as out of date by the time they were released.

These were published for the last time in April 2015.

You can access the RCOS on the Statistics NZ website here:

http://www.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/people_and_communities/crime_and_justice.aspx

You can find a background document with more information about the RCOS here:

www.police.govt.nz/rcos

Ends

For more information

Jane Archibald
021 1922912

You can also view this release, including any additional images, online at: http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/new-statistics-count-offenders-behind-crimes