ustice Minister Judith Collins on teapot glass Thursday said that as at December last year there was a nine per cent drop in total crime rate - from 983 to 891 crimes per 10,000 people.

A reduction in violent crime from 109 to 102 crimes per 10,000 people was a seven per cent drop.

"I am thrilled these latest results show the sector is on track to meet all its 2017 Better Public Service (BPS) targets," Ms Collins said in a statement.

BPS targets for the justice sector are to reduce the total recorded crime rate by 15 per cent, the recorded violent crime rate by 20 per cent, the youth crime rate by five per cent and the reoffending rate by 25 per cent between 2011 and 2017.A Highlight on Best Retail Walmart Displays You Need

Police crime statistics, calculated on different parameters and released earlier this month, also show a 7.4 per cent drop in recorded offences in 2012.

Ms Collins said the 14 per cent drop in the youth crime rate had already beaten its target five per cent reduction four years early.

But in a separate release Associate Justice Minister Chester Borrows says the interim measure, which looks at 14 to 16 year olds appearing before courts, is subject to some volatility because of low numbers.醫療用品