Lies, damn lies and statistics
Len Brown writes in the Herald:
The new Auckland Council will have a lot of work to do to help create a safer environment – police statistics show that Auckland City has more reported crime per 100,000 residents than any other police district in the country, and Counties/Manukau the fourth highest rate.
Now I always get interested when anyone starts talking about the overall crime rate for it is almost a meaningless statistic, as it treats all crime as equal. A brutal homicide is the same as jaywalking (well that is not an offence, but imagine the most minor criminal offence there is).
I always pay most attention to the violent crime rate, and sexual crime rate, as they are the one people worry about most in terms of safety.
So Len Brown is right that in terms of overall crime, Auckland Police District has a higher rate that Counties/Manukau. There were 55,898 and 54,409 reported crimes respectively, which is a rate per 10,000 population of 1328 and 1094.
However if we look at violent crimes, the respective rates are 128 for Auckland and 195 for CM – CM is 52% higher.
Much the same for sexual offences – the rates are 7.8 and 9.8 – CM is 26% higher.
The category that makes up most of the overall crime stats is dishonesty, and the primary offence within that category is theft.
So remember whenever anyone talks about the overall crime rate, ask about the violent and sexual crime rate also. Otherwise a 2% fall in thefts may be masking a 50% increase in violent assaults and rapes.
January 28th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
I’d be more interested in the primary residence of the criminal, not where they are undertaking the crime. Lets see some states on that.
January 28th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Gee do you think that fact that bugger all people actually live in Auckland city because a ot of it the freaken CBD for a start but a lot of people go there to get drunk and stupid might play a part in these stats?
Just a thought.
January 28th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Murray, that and (as Bevan alludes to) the fact that most of the burglaries will be South Auckland residents commuting northwards…
January 28th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Yeah you rip off the rich because everyone you live next door to only has busted shit too.
January 28th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
“Murray, that and (as Bevan alludes to) the fact that most of the burglaries will be South Auckland residents commuting northwards…”
Didn’t Melissa get a bit of stick for stating the same obvious answer recently?
January 28th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
No one said she was wrong though did they.
January 28th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Len (lightweight) Brown really ought to engage his brain before opening his gob. Mind you he offers Banks a tempting target.
January 28th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Her phrasology could have been substantially better as well.
January 28th, 2010 at 4:43 pm
Yes Lenny Ask Plod to give you the addresses of the crims they catch doing crime in Auckland CBD.
Betcha the bulk are from your ‘hood
Suggest you start thinking up ways and means to fix YOUR problem Lenny
And dont keep on blaming us white middle aged guys
Thats soooooooooooooooooooo last century Lenny
January 28th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
Actually ‘jaywalking’ is an offence.
January 28th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
It has up to $1000 fine as a penalty.
January 28th, 2010 at 9:15 pm
Reminds me of the protests about water usage for a new private residence – based on “worldwide shortages of water”.
Um, so exactly how does a water shortage in large sections of Asia and Africa mean that a house in Dunedin needs to use less?
January 28th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
Sigh. Yet again another pissing competition on statistics by a Labour politician. Good work DPF.
January 29th, 2010 at 12:33 am
Len Brown is an idiot. More proof, if it was needed.
January 29th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Len Brown is a politician, not a very good one but one never the less. The focus is always on violent crime but in reality what worries most people is burglary or a crime of dishonesty in their own homes.
The majority of people are not out on the piss at 2.00 am in Aucklands CBD so there is very little chance of them getting a hiding on the corner of Fort and Queen.
The incidence of unprovoked violence against the individual is relatively rare. What you get a lot of is pissed up business men thinking at 2.00 am they can rock and roll with a very fit full of vinegar 18 year and they routinely get beaten up or worse.
This is were Brown is distracting attention from his short comings as mayor of Manukau. The vast majority of people who live in South Auckland are victims, Not offenders, a great many of these people are trapped economically where they live and they are preyed on routinely.
The 14 year old burglar does not drive from Otara to Mt Eden to steal, he jumps over the fence and enters his neighbours address.