Faces of the Day

The government has just released a statement that police data shows that from 1 January to 31 July this year, there was a 22 percent reduction in serious assaults within the Auckland CBD compared with the same period last year, and an 18 percent reduction in serious assaults resulting in injury. [...]

Luxon partly credits the drop in crime to a new scheme where police work closer with stakeholders and services including the Ministry of Social Development, Kāinga Ora and Auckland Council. [...]

Luxon criticised the previous Labour government as "soft on crime" during his remarks. [...]

Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck said in a statement that “There is a noticeable difference to how the city centre feels – the additional police and the significant local resources including our own safety team has made a positive impact. This is showing in crime trending down and the feedback that we get from local businesses. [...]

In response, Labour said police have been working hard to combat crime in Auckland CBD, but the government is just shifting the problem elsewhere.

Labour pointed to an increase in thefts, assaults and related offences, when looking nationwide over the first five months.

RNZ