Total recorded assaults on Police - New Zealand Police Association

PoliceNewsThe Voice of PoliceA day in the life ofBy Deb Stringer, Communications AssistantWhether it’s overseeing a covert operation on illegal street racing or running a national campaigntargeting drink driving, the New Zealand Police Highway Patrol are committed to keeping everybody onour roads safer and the road toll down.To achieve this, the New Zealand Policefocuses on five key areas that threaten toundermine that objective.These are speed, alcohol, restraints, highriskdrivers and careless and dangerousdriving. Road Policing officers know these as“the fatal five”.Road Policing units nationwide run fournational and 12 regional campaignstargeting these five issues each year.Fair callSergeant Tim Crum from the WellingtonHighway Patrol said that speed continued tobe the most problematic.“On a busy day I can apprehend up to 30people for speeding. It is important you dotoo because studies have shown that lettingpeople off with a warning doesn’t changetheir actions.“Of course people aren’t exactly happywith getting issued a ticket but I think if weremain consistent across the board with theway we handle it, people respect us.”Mr Crum also said Police aimed to remainhighly visible in the areas they covered, andwhenever possible promoted ongoing andwell publicised campaigns about the workthey’re doing.“We try to remain as transparent as wecan,” he said.Good bitsOne of the best things about the job is thevariety, according to Mr Crum.“You never know what is going to happenfrom day to day. Every day is different.“You can never be fully prepared for whatyou are going to encounter as one minuteyou may be pulling over someone for a• A Highway Patrol officer checks a vehicle involved in a road crash.• A Highway Patrol officer checks the wheel hub of a bus. Part of the job involves checking thatvehicles are road worthy.64April 2010