THE PSNI has explained its falling attendance at crime scenes as being due to a more "flexible, customer-focused approach".
More calls are now dealt with over the telephone, with the force saying this allows local police to respond to incidents presenting the greatest threat.
The PSNI's overall attendance rate following reports of crimes had remained steady at about 93 per cent since 2011.
However, it dropped for the first time in five years to 85 per cent in 2014, and fell further to 80 per cent this year.
Statistics compiled by the Irish News also reveal that:
- Response rates ranged from 90 per cent in Mid Ulster this year to a low of 71 per cent in Belfast.
- One in three sexual offences reported were not attended by officers after attendances plunged by 23 per cent in the past year.
- Police responses to thefts have also been among most affected with a 16 per cent fall in attendances since 2013.
The figures, from 2010 to early November 2015, were uncovered through Freedom of Information requests.
More than 90,000 crimes were reported during the 2015 period, with officers dispatched or attending around 72,000 of these recorded offences.
Chief Inspector Clive Beatty, from the PSNI's call management team, said changes to its response policy has led to more reports being resolved over the telephone.
"Since October 2013 we changed our call handling and call grading policy to a more flexible, customer focused approach," he said.
"Instead of attending all calls, we conduct a risk and needs-based assessment on the individual circumstances of each incident against the needs of the customer and the obligations of the organisation.
"This approach saw a 20 per cent increase in the amount of calls we resolved over the telephone, by recording the details, then offering advice and guidance or signposting to another partner agency, service or organisation.
"This 20 per cent increase resulted in around 35 per cent less calls responded to by operational police, creating capacity to allow local police to respond to incidents that presented the greatest threat, risk and harm to society."
The response is at odds with how the PSNI addressed concerns last year.
It dismissed questions from The Irish News when figures from January to September 2014 suggested crime attendance had dropped to 87 per cent.
"The statistics you are quoting are not comparative figures. As a result it would be inaccurate for you to report a reduction in attendance and the remainder of your enquiries as such [are] not relevant," the PSNI press office said at the time.
Around 500 non-emergency calls to police every day are resolved over the phone by call handlers, with the caller having no contact with an officer.
The PSNI says trained contact management staff deal with "low-level incidents" this way to free up officers for front-line duties.
In Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon police attendance at miscellaneous crimes fell to 52 per cent this year.
The PSNI attended 91 per cent of house burglaries in 2015, compared to 98 per cent for forces in England and Wales during 2013.
Fears over crime attendance rates were raised in England and Wales following a report published in 2014.
The overall crime attendance for England and Wales was 79 per cent.
HM Inspectorate of Constabulary found that victims were being encouraged to investigate crimes themselves, with some even asked to check for CCTV or fingerprints.
It said criminal damage and car crime were "on the verge of being decriminalised" because forces had "almost given up".
While large fluctuations in attendance rates in Northern Ireland may be due to smaller crime numbers in some policing districts, the figures have also caused concern.
Ulster Unionist West Tyrone MLA and Policing Board member Ross Hussey said an 80 per cent attendance rate seems "unacceptably low".
"There is no doubt that some minor cases do not need a police officer present, but if we are talking about a situation involving any allegation of sexual assault or robbery, then I would expect a 100 per cent attendance," he said.
"The offences of robbery and theft – especially from a household – can also have a major effect on the victims, who will benefit from the reassurance and support that a quick police response can bring."
SDLP Policing Board member Dolores Kelly said despite reductions in police budgets and strain caused by public order policing in places like Twaddell in north Belfast, "some of these figures are horrifying".
"Police are now failing to attend one in three reported sexual offences. That is an absolute dereliction of duty and can only erode the confidence of victims of these horrific crimes.
"I will be raising this with the Chief Constable and his senior management team as a matter of urgency."
