escalating violence in our community Become a member of the Sensible Sentencing Trust

Mouseover links or blue arrows below for full page descriptions

Our Homepage NZ Crime Statistics NZ Crime Graphs Current Situation International Statistics Australia USA Singapore Japan

Crime Graphs

Because of the size of these you may need to scroll across to see all of the data

This graph gives a good indication of what we are up against. Note that the growth in violence in crime is not driven by population growth. Our population reached two million in 1952 and three million in 1973, the period of fastest growth (although it was already slowing at that point) and growth has further slowed since then and we have only recently exceeded four million. Violent crime soared in the mid and late 80's well after the bulk of those born in the period of greatest growth would have been past 25 (the age group 17-25 is generally the most likely to commit crime). See population data here.

This graph shows the rising tide of violent crime in New Zealand over the last fifty years since the post-war liberal social experiment began. Violent offending has increased at least 10 fold in the time it took New Zealand's population to double!

During the 1990s public outrage at violent crime grew culminating in a citizens initiated referendum in 1999 where 92% of New Zealanders voted for tougher minimum sentences for violent crime.

Other notable events;
1993 : MMP Referendum held. Although only 55% of electors took part, an overwhelming 85% voted to change their electoral system. In the second part of the poll, 70% favoured MMP. As Labour leader Mike Moore put it: 'The people didn't speak on Saturday. They screamed.'
1996 : First MMP election
1999 : Law and order referendum where 92% voted for longer sentences for violent offending. Well if 75% of 55% of the people is a scream what is 92%?
2002 : The Parole Act 2002 and the Sentencing Act 2002 substantially replace the Criminal Justice Act 1985 bring in the possibility of non-parole periods and longer sentences for violent crimes.

Note. Many documents indicate that the total crime rate is falling in New Zealand since 1992. This is only due to a large decrease in "dishonesty offences". Possible reasons for minor offences to fall are changes in the recording practices of the government or legislative changes in the definition of offences so that what was previously an offence is no longer so such as lowering the alcohol purchase age.

References :
Statistics New Zealand/Tatauranga Aotearoa (2006) Wellington, N.Z. Crime in New Zealand. Statistics New Zealand
Soboleva, Nataliya, Kazakova, Nina, and Chong, Jin (2006). Conviction and Sentencing of Offenders in New Zealand: 1996 to 2005.