Correction to crime statistics media release - non cannabis drugs offence class
National News Release 6:01pm 9 March 2004

Police today corrected a percentage ascribed to non-cannabis offences in yesterday’s media release on the calendar year crime statistics for 2003.

The media statement from Office of the Commissioner yesterday suggested those offences had risen by one percent. Figures in the accompanying tables showed a movement from 2,841 offences in 2002 to 2,623 offences in 2003. However, a new offence class Drugs (New Drugs)' was created in 2003 to capture more specific statistics on methamphetamine related drugs. 922 offences were recorded in this new offence class.

The combined total recorded offences in this new offence class and the existing drugs (excluding cannabis) offence class is 3,545. This represents an increase of 24.8%, compared with an increase of 28.4% the previous year.

The total recorded drugs offences (including cannabis) in 2003 reduced by 1.8%.

The Commissioner’s Office apologises for any confusion that may have been caused by comparing the media release reference to the actual figures in the table of statistics.

ENDS

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