FREE Wednesday MaRCH 1 2017 379 7100 Bay Harbour News Proudly locally owned and published by Star Media Black Billed Gull YOUR LOCAL REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL Mark Gardner YOUR LOCAL REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL Mark Gardner p: (03) 331 6757 m: 021 633 669 e: mark.gardner@raywhite.com p: (03) 331 6757 m: 021 633 669 e: mark.gardner@raywhite.com Prier Manson Real Estate Ltd (Licensed REAA 2008) Prier Manson Real Estate Ltd (Licensed REAA 2008) Brookhaven, Heathcote, Ferrymead ,Redcliffs, Mt. Pleasant, Sumner, Lyttelton, Diamond Harbour, Governors Bay, Akaroa Former cop complains about police response Call for review into after hours coverage • By Gabrielle Stuart A FORMER detective has laid an official complaint against Lyttelton police, saying they “fobbed off” two requests for help. Peter Newsome complained last month to the Commissioner of Police, asking for a formal review of Lyttelton’s after-hours policing policy. He said residents were losing confidence in the local police. His complaint comes after ongoing concern from the community about the police coverage. Bay Harbour News has been covering the ongoing issue and has a backgrounder on pages 6-7. The Lyttelton Police Station opens between 8am and 5pm on weekdays, in spite of the fact almost two thirds of crimes recorded in the port over the last two years were committed after hours or on the weekends. Mr Newsome’s complaints come after Lyttelton residents Candice Milner and Paul NEW FERRYMEAD SHOP NOW OPEN Easter’s hopping up on us Friday 14 – Monday 17 April Don’t forget to order your chocolate Bunny or Egg this Easter. We have a wonderful range of Easter Eggs, Bunnies, Chicks and so much more... Available in either dark, milk or white chocolate. Hop in and have a look! FRUSTRATED: Former detective and Lyttelton resident Peter Newsome with his complaint. PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN Dietche put together an online survey, which was sparked by a spate of car thefts and burglaries in January, in a bid to address crime. The survey, which was taken by about 100 Lyttleton residents last month found 66 per cent believed the police response to crime in the area was inadequate. Mr Newsome said neither of his complaints had been serious, but he was concerned by how “dismissive” Lyttelton police had been. The first was when his wife lost her engagement ring, and she went to the station to report it missing, so it could be returned JUST LISTED 7 St Remy Lane, Redcliffs if handed in. He said the officer at the station opened the door slightly, and told her through the gap she had to report it by phone. “She just felt completely fobbed off,” he said. The second was at about 6am on Christmas Eve, when he caught a dog killing chickens, and followed the dog back to its home. When he called police to report it, he was told the police were too busy attending incidents where lives were threatened. He was told police would only respond to incidents in Lyttelton after 5pm if there was a “direct threat to life”. “If it is the case that police are so busy attending life or death AUCTION: March 10th 5:30pm at Ray White Ferrymead situations to attend anything else, surely we’d be facing mayhem in the city, and we’re not seeing that,” he said. Mr Newsome worked for more than 20 years in the police, including about a year working night shifts in Lyttelton in the 80s. He complained because he was seriously concerned about the way confidence in the police was dropping. He made his complaint in January to Police Minister Paula Bennett, who passed it on to the Commissioner of Police. It is currently being investigated by Canterbury area prevention manager Paul Reeves, before it will be put to the Independent Police Conduct Authority. • Turn to page 7 AUCTION REMINDER 10 St Leonards, Sumner Be on site March 5th at 10:30am 1013 Ferry Rd, Ferrymead - Ph 384 5285 218 Riccarton Road, Riccarton - Ph 343 1467 www.despa.co.nz Simon & Paula Standeven 0274 304 691 /TheStandevens Prier Manson Real Estate Ltd Licensed (REAA 2008)
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