North Canterbury News: January 27, 2022

NEWS
16 North Canterbury News, January 27, 2022
On the beat ... Senior constable Tony Maw chats to Rangiora patrol leader Chris Barker.
Patrols extra ‘eyes and ears’
By ROBYN BRISTOW
Community patrols continue to play an
important part in crime prevention in
North Canterbury.
Senior constable Tony Maw says
Community Patrols are valued partners
of the police, providing extra ‘‘eyes and
ears’’ in communities.
‘‘We really support their role, and
value the assistance they give us,’’ he
says.
Volunteers for patrols were always
being sought.
‘‘The more volunteers, the more
patrols we can put out there,’’ he says.
When patrols began, traditionally they
were out on Friday and Saturday nights.
But that had now changed, particularly
as more volunteers are available and the
North Canterbury areas continue to
grow.
‘‘It is about patrolling to demand. Quite
often crimes are happening in the early
hours of the morning, any day of the
week.
‘‘We need to be flexible, and work
patrols around the demand,’’ he says.
Constable Maw says Neighbourhood
Support was another valued partner of
the police, with neighbours looking out
for each other, taking notes of any
suspicious behaviour, and car number
plates, and calling police in atimely
manner to alert them to any activity that
was causing concern.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
‘‘Call 111 if it is happening now, and
that includes suspicious vehicles.
‘‘I am abig advocate of calling 111. Our
call takers are experienced people, and
can screen calls and maybe divert some
calls to the 105 non­emergency line.
‘‘We would much rather hear about it
(suspicious activity), at that time, rather
than have aburglar slip through the net.’’
Constable Maw says putting concerns
up on Facebook pages was great in
alerting the community to unusual
activity, but the police were also part of
the community and needed to be alerted
at the same time.
‘‘Don’t just put it on Facebook. Alert
the police.’’
Arecent raffle run by the Rangiora
Community Patrol to help fund
resources, had huge support from the
community.
Rangiora patrol leader Chris Barker
says the patrol was really grateful to the
community for its support. The raffle
prizes included petrol and Mitre 10
vouchers.
Dial 111 if something is happening
‘‘now’’, and 105 if it has already
happened. People can also file reports
online at: police.govt.nz/105support.
‘‘That includes anything down to minor
property damage or aperson acting
suspiciously,’’ Constable Maw says.
To express an interest in joining a
community patrol go to the Community
Patrols NZ website.
WasteNot, Want Not,bySarah Burtscher
WasteNot Want Not is acook book based on the top
10 foodsthrown out in New Zealand.
With $1.7 billion of food wasted everyyear,this book
brings the general household 80 delicious recipes
and 40 plus tips and tricks on how to stop wasting
food.
Wintering, by KatherineMay
An intimate, revelatorybook
exploring the ways we can
care for and repair ourselves
in the difficult times of life.
Dressed, by ClaireRegnault
This richly illustrated and
livelysocial historyexplores
the creation, consumption
and spectacle of fashionable
dress in Aotearoa New
Zealand from 1840 to the
early 1900s.
These titles are available
in both Waimakaririand
Hurunui libraries.
Find out more about recent
additions to the library collection by going to the
library catalogueatwaimakariri.kotui.org.nz or
hurunui.kotui.org.nz or contact yourlocal library.