Rise in violent offences reported

INVERCARGILL leaders are voicing their concerns about a rise in violent crime in the city, and police statistics show an increase of more than 30% in reports of offences involving victims in the last year.

On Monday, a man wielding a knife arrived at The On The Spot Collingwood Foodcentre in North Rd about 9.10pm and demanded money from a worker.

While noone was harmed, the episode left the staff shaken, police said.

The police statistics website showed an increase of 34.5% of reported crime where there were victims (crime victimisations) in Invercargill city in the last year.

From November 2020 to November 2021 there were 2648 victimisations reports with 3561 offences reported in the same time period in the following year.

It included all acts intended to cause injury, thefts and robberies.

Police area commander Inspector Mike Bowman said Invercargill was no different from any other city across the country.

‘‘Insofar as we have our share of serious crime and violent offending.

‘‘We understand any incident that involves violence impacts the feelings of safety in our communities.’’

He said police worked hard to respond quickly to incidents and apprehend those responsible.

Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds said she was deeply concerned with the increasing numbers of cases.

‘‘Violent crime is happening all too often in Invercargill and I’m worried that it could end with the loss of a life.’’

In the past six months there were several episodes of violence which included ram raids at various locations as well as aggravated robberies at the Centre St and Crinan St dairies and the BP Elles Rd service station, she said.

‘‘People are just getting fed up with the violent crime that we’re seeing here in Invercargill, and indeed around the country, and it’s the local dairy and shop owners in our city that I’m concerned about.’’

Invercargill Mayor Nobby Clark said he was not aware if the crime rates were escalating in the city.

However, this would not surprise him, he said.

‘‘Research has shown that in times of stress and with the high cost of living at the moment, that increases the rates of crimes.’’

Insp Bowman urged members of the public to keep reporting incidents and suspicious behaviour to police.