Kerre Woodham: Is crime really down if we're scared to go to the mall in case of ram raids?

So we wake to a glorious morning … crime is down. Record low crime numbers. Is that what it feels like Are we living in some kind of alternate universe where on the one hand, there's a proportion of the population living in a glorious, bucolic paradise where no crime is committed, where children go to school to learn and go on to become productive, hardworking citizens of this country. The rest of us are living in our country where you're a bit scared to go to your local mall in case some oiks burst in and start smashing up the local jeweller shop. Which universe do you live in?  

You look at the crime stats and you drill down a bit further and you look at the wording and you look at when the measurements were taken and it starts to make a bit more sense. The devil is indeed in the detail.  For one thing, and this is something that Justice Minister Kari Allen acknowledges, Covid-19 lockdowns had an effect on the lower numbers.

According to stats, it's the lowest number of adult convictions on record, youth charges are down 10%. So we've got Covid, the lockdowns, take that into account. Then you look at how it's worded, a record low number of people charged with offences. Charged. If you don't charge people then of course the crime stats will look good. If you do charge people but you don't convict them, of course the crime stats will look good. If police are conducting fewer drink drive roadblocks, then the numbers will come down. So again which universe are we in? The one where crime is on the decrease and the Government says that's because our policies and parts are working.

Or are you living in the universe where you're a bit nervous about going to your local mall, just in case you happen to be here, there at the wrong place, wrong time?

There are lies, damned lies and statistics. I suppose if you, if you want to be a cheerleader for the Government, you will say, yay, look at this crime has dropped. If you want to be a realist, you’ll say has it? Have a look at these stats, crime’s gone up. So when I see the headline saying record low crime numbers. In the words of our Prime Minister, I reject the premise of that assertion!

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