Chapter 11 – Offending behavior 149 proportion of detainees who had shoplifted in the past month in 2011 compared to 2010 (18% vs. 15%, p=0.2328). However, the proportion of detainees in Auckland Central who had recently shoplifted increased in 2011 compared to 2010 (22% vs.
15%, p=0.0447) (Figure 11.1). The proportion of detainees in Whangarei who had shoplifted was also higher in 2011 compared to 2010 (16% vs. 9%), but this increase was not statistically significant (p=0.1060).
Table 11.1: Frequency police detainees had shoplifted in the previous month by location, 2010 & 2011 Frequency
shoplifted in past month (%)
Whangarei Auckland Central Wellington
Central Christchurch
Central All sites
2010
(n=110) 2011
(n=144) 2010
(n=267) 2011
(n=302) 2010
(n=149) 2011
(n=164) 2010
(n=259) 2011
(n=188) 2010
(n=785) 2011 (n=798)
Never 91 84 85 78 85 84 82 86 85 82
1-2 times 5 10 6 13 9 5 11 8 8 9
Once a week 1 3 4 3 3 2 2 3 3 3
More than once per week (but not daily)
3 2 3 3 1 6 3 2 3 3
Daily 1 1 2 3 2 2 3 2 2 2
In 2011, detainees in Auckland Central were more likely to have shoplifted in the previous month than those in Christchurch Central (22% vs. 15%), and this difference was very close to being statistically significant (p=0.0503).
Figure 11 1: Proportion of police detainees who had shoplifted in the previous month by location, 2010 & 2011
Property crime in the previous month
Nineteen percent of the detainees reported that they had committed a property crime in the previous month in 2011 (Table 11.2). Five percent had committed a property crime weekly or more often over the past month. There was no statistically significant change in the level of property crime in 2011 compared to 2010 (19%
both years) or between any of the sites (Figure 18.2).
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Whangarei Auckland Central Wellington Central
Christchurch Central
Detainees (%)
2010 2011
Chapter 11 – Offending behavior 151 Table 11.2: Frequency police detainees had committed a property crime in the previous month by location, 2010 & 2011
Frequency committed property crime in past month (%)
Whangarei Auckland Central Wellington Central
Christ- church Central
All sites
2010
(n=110) 2011
(n=145) 2010
(n=267) 2011
(n=297) 2010
(n=149) 2011
(n=164) 2010
(n=259) 2011
(n=188) 2010
(n=785) 2011 (n=794)
Never 85 81 81 79 85 82 77 82 81 81
1-2 times 13 17 12 15 7 13 17 13 13 14
Once a week
2 2 3 2 3 2 3 3 3 2
More than once per week (but not daily)
0 1 3 1 2 2 2 3 2 2
Daily 1 0 2 2 3 1 1 0 2 1
Figure 11 2: Proportion of police detainees who had committed a property crime in the previous month by location, 2010 & 2011
Drug dealing in the previous month
Twenty percent of the detainees reported selling drugs in the previous month in 2011 (Table 11.3). Fourteen percent had sold drugs weekly or more often in the past
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Whangarei Auckland Central Wellington Central
Christchurch Central
Detainees (%)
2010 2011
month. Overall there was no change in the proportion of detainees who had sold drugs in the past month in 2011 compared to 2010 (20% vs. 23%, p=0.1690).
However, a lower proportion of detainees in Christchurch Central had sold drugs in the previous month in 2011 compared to 2010 (16% vs. 29%, p=0.0022) (Figure 11.3).
Table 11.3: Frequency police detainees had sold drugs in the previous month by location, 2010 &
2011 Frequency sold drugs in past month (%)
Whangarei Auckland Central Wellington
Central Christchurch
Central All sites
2010
(n=109) 2011
(n=145) 2010
(n=267) 2011
(n=301) 2010
(n=149) 2011
(n=162) 2010
(n=259) 2011
(n=188) 2010
(n=784) 2011 (n=796)
Never 84 76 81 79 76 79 71 84 77 80
1-2 times 4 8 4 6 3 7 8 6 5 6
Once a week
2 2 2 5 2 2 4 1 2 3
More than once per week (but not daily)
1 6 5 4 4 5 7 5 5 5
Daily 9 9 8 6 15 6 10 4 10 6
There was no significant difference in the proportion of police detainees who had sold drugs in the past month between the four sites in 2011.
Chapter 11 – Offending behavior 153 Figure 11.3: Proportion of the police detainees who had sold drugs in the previous month by location, 2010 & 2011
Violent crime in the previous month
Nineteen percent of the detainees reported they had committed a violent crime in the previous month in 2011 (Table 11.4). Just over 2% had done so weekly or more often. A lower proportion of detainees had committed a violent crime in the previous month in 2011 compared to 2010 (19% vs. 23%) and this difference was very close to being statistically significant (p=0.0512). The decline in violent crime was most notable in Christchurch Central in 2011 compared to 2010 (19% vs. 27%) and this difference was also close to being statistically significant (p=0.0651) (Figure 11.4).
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Whangarei Auckland Central
Wellington Central
Christchurch Central
Detainees (%)
2010 2011
Table 11.4: Frequency police detainees had committed violent crime in the previous month by location, 2010 & 2011
Frequency committed violent crime in past month (%)
Whangarei Auckland Central Wellington Central
Christchurch Central
All sites
2010
(n=109) 2011
(n=145) 2010
(n=266) 2011
(n=299) 2010
(n=149) 2011
(n=162) 2010
(n=259) 2011
(n=188) 2010
(n=783) 2011 (n=794)
Never 75 79 81 85 75 72 73 81 77 81
1-2 times 22 19 17 14 18 23 24 16 20 17
Once a week
3 1 2 0 5 3 2 2 2 1
More than once per week (but not daily)
0 1 <1 <1 2 1 1 1 1 1
Daily 0 0 0 <1 1 1 <1 0 <1 <1
In 2011, detainees in Wellington Central were more likely to have committed a violent crime in the previous month than those in Auckland Central (28% vs. 15%, p=0.0014). Detainees in Wellington Central were also more likely to have committed a violent crime that those in Christchurch Central (28% vs. 19%) and this was close to being statistically significant (p=0.0770). Finally detainees in Whangarei were more likely to have committed a violent crime than those in Auckland Central (21% vs.
15%) and this difference was also close to being statistically significant (p=0.0770).
Chapter 11 – Offending behavior 155 Figure 11.4: Proportion of police detainees who had committed violent crime in the previous month by location, 2010 & 2011
Statistical associations between demographic characteristics and self‐reported crime
This section provides an initial picture of the statistical associations between various demographic characteristics and the self‐reported criminal activity of the detainees (Table 11.5). The analysis was completed using bivariate analysis. More sophisticated multivariate models will be forthcoming. Detainees who were under 25 years of age, currently receiving an unemployment or sickness benefit, of single marital status and who had been in prison in the previous 12 months were more likely to have committed a property crime in the past month (Figure 11.5). Detainees who were under 25 years of age, currently receiving an unemployment or sickness benefit, living in temporary accommodation and had been in prison in the previous 12 months were more likely to have sold drugs in the past month (Figure 11.6).
Detainees who were under 25 years old were more likely to have committed a violent crime in the past month.
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Whangarei Auckland Central Wellington Central
Christchurch Central
Detainees (%)
2010 2011
Figure 11.5: Proportion of police detainees who committed a property crime in the previous month by key demographic characteristics, 2011
18%
28%
14%
23%
14%
24%
14%
25%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Not in prison in last year In prison in last year Not single Single Employed Unemployed Over 25 years Under 25 years
Chapter 11 – Offending behavior 157 Table 11.5: The association between various demographic variables and self‐reported criminal behaviour in the previous month, 2011
Committed a property crime in past 30 days
Sold drugs in past 30 days Committed a violent crime in past 30 days
(n=793) % p-value % p-value % p-value
Male 20 0.2564 21 0.3025 19 0.7753
Female 15 16 21
Under 25 years old 25 <0.0001 24 0.0067 23 0.0112
25 years + 14 17 16
Maori primary ethnicity 20 0.5700 23 0.0936 21 0.4059
Non-Maori primary ethnicity 19 18 19
Unemployed/sickness benefit
24 0.0005 25 0.0002 19 0.9595
Not unemployed/ sickness benefit
14 15 20
Did not complete compulsory years of high school
22 0.0882 22 0.2850 22 0.2033
Completed compulsory years of high school
17 19 18
Not living in a house or apartment
22 0.5400 31 0.0084 21 0.8055
Living in a house or apartment
19 19 19
Single marital status 23 0.0022 20 0.8063 20 0.8647
Non single marital status 14 20 19
Prison in past 12 months 28 0.0073 34 <0.0001 17 0.5151
No prison in past 12 months
18 18 20
Figure 11 6: Proportion of police detainees who sold drugs in the previous month by key demographic characteristics, 2011
Statistical associations between drug use and self‐reported crime
We also completed an initial investigation of the associations between heavier alcohol and drug use and the criminal behavior of the detainees (Table 11.6).
Detainees who had consumed heavier quantities of alcohol (i.e. 5 or more drinks in a single occasion at least twice per week), frequently used cannabis (i.e. smoked cannabis at least three times per week) and often used methamphetamine (i.e. used methamphetamine at least weekly) were more likely to have committed a property crime in the past month (Figure 11.7). Detainees who had consumed heavier quantities of alcohol, frequently used cannabis and often used methamphetamine were also more likely to have sold drugs in the past month (Figure 11.8). Finally, detainees who consumed higher quantities of alcohol were more likely to have committed a violent crime in the past month.
18%
34%
31%
19%
15%
25%
17%
24%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%
Not in prison in last year In prison in last year Not living in a house/apartment Living in a house/apartment Employed Unemployed Over 25 years Under 25 years
Chapter 11 – Offending behavior 159
Table 11.6: The association between heavier use of alcohol and drug use and self‐reported criminal behaviour in the previous month, 2011
Committed a property crime in past 30 days
Sold drugs in past 30 days
Committed a violent crime in past 30 days
(n=792) % p-value % p-value % p-value
High consumption of alcohol* at least twice a week in the past 30 days
26 0.0017 28 0.0003 25 0.0147
Did not consume high amounts of alcohol* at least twice a week in the past 30 days
16 16 17
Used cannabis at least three times a week in the past 30 days
28 <0.0001 35 <0.0001 21 0.3804
Did not use cannabis at least three times a week in the past 30 days
14 12 19
Used methamphetamine at least once a week in the past 30 days
34 0.0003 52 <0.0001 18 0.7724
Did not use methamphetamine at least once a week in the past 30 days
17 17 20
*Five or more drinks on a single occasion for males or three or more drinks on a single occasion for females
Figure 11 7: Proportion of police detainees who committed a property crime in the previous month by level of alcohol and drug use, 2011
Figure 11 8: Proportion of police detainees who sold drugs in the previous month by level of alcohol and drug use, 2011
17%
34%
14%
28%
16%
26%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Not frequent meth consumption Frequent meth consumption Not frequent cannabis consumption Frequent cannabis consumption Not frequent alcohol consumption Frequent alcohol consumption
17%
52%
12%
35%
16%
28%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
Not frequent meth consumption Frequent meth consumption Not frequent cannabis consumption Frequent cannabis consumption Not frequent alcohol consumption Frequent alcohol consumption
Chapter 11 – Offending behavior 161
Summary
Eighteen percent of the detainees had shoplifted in the previous month in 2011
Detainees in Auckland Central more likely to have shoplifted in the past month in 2011 compared to 2010 (22% vs. 15%)
Nineteen percent of the detainees had committed a property crime in the previous month in 2011
Twenty percent of the detainees had sold drugs in the previous month in 2011
A lower proportion of detainees in Christchurch Central had sold drugs in the past month in 2011 compared to 2010 (16% vs. 29%)
Nineteen percent of the detainees had committed a violent crime in the previous month in 2011
A lower proportion of the detainees had committed a violent crime in the previous month in 2011 compared to 2010 (19% vs. 23%)
The decline in violent crime was most notable in Christchurch Central in 2011 compared to 2010 (19% vs. 27%)
Detainees who were under 25 years of age, currently receiving an unemployment or sickness benefit and who had been in prison in the previous 12 months were more likely to have committed a property crime and sold drugs in the past month
Detainees who had consumed heavier quantities of alcohol, frequently used cannabis and often used methamphetamine were more likely to have committed a property crime and sold drugs in the past month