Southern View: March 28, 2024

4
Thursday March 28 2024
Policing hub
Gary, Tom, Arnie
plan on hold
• From page 1
“We’ve got nearly full
coverage of the hill,” he said.
“It’s been good for a couple
of situations where suspicious
people have been wandering
around open garage doors. Then
people can let each other know.”
Baird and Lomax both
emphasised members of the
WhatsApp groups should
still make reports to police
as the channels are only for
monitoring crime and reporting
to neighbours.
Future plans for the
WhatsApp groups involve
setting up a community
policing hub at the old Sumner
police station. But police
opposition to the proposal has
brought it to a halt for now.
The plan to use the Nayland
St building was first raised in
July by the Bays Community
Policing Hub, which includes
some members of the
WhatsApp groups.
But police told Bay Harbour
News the group had been
advised it could not use
the building “months ago”.
But when Bay Harbour
News approached the hub, a
spokesperson said it was not
aware of this decision and was
surprised by it.
Metro area commander,
Superintendent Lane Todd, said
the plan was declined because
police want people to report
crime directly to them, rather
than through a hub.
“That way we can gather as
much information as possible
at the time,
providing
a better
response.”
The
building is
currently
occupied by
the Sumner
Community
Residents’
Association. Lane Todd
The hub
spokesperson said police
misunderstood the proposed
function of the hub as people
would be encouraged to report
crime to the police as well as to
the hub.
Said Banks Peninsula MP
Vanessa Weenink: “If police
don’t support it, I don’t support
it. It seems unlikely it would go
ahead.”
• By Lily Duval
THE STORY of family, nature,
and the bond between a father,
son, and their furry companion
is unfolding around Lyttelton
Harbour.
Gary Freedman and his
son Tom, who is a student at
Cashmere High School, make
a great trapping team with help
from their cocker spaniel Arnie.
Freedman said when Arnie
races off to check the traps “he
lets us know if there’s something
in there.”
When a trap has caught
something, the father and son
team have developed an easy
routine, sharing their jobs.
“It’s really handy with two
because it makes everything a
bit quicker,” said Freedman.
The trio are members of
Whaka-Ora Pest Project, a
community trapping initiative
covering the parks and trails
around Lyttelton Harbour.
“One of us can do the trap,
and the other person can be on
the app, logging the catch on
TrapNZ. By yourself, you have
to take the gloves off, get into
computer mode, and then flip
back to nature,” said Freedman.
Tom, 17, is so fast at logging
the catches, Freedman barely
notices him doing it.
He said without Tom, he
would probably forget to record
the catches online.
ON THE JOB: Father and son pest trapping team Gary
and Tom Freedman working with their loyal cocker
spaniel Arnie.
They’ve recorded excellent
results so far.
Said Tom: “It’s really satisfying
when you get something.
“You know you’re doing it
well, and it’s working.”
He has a message for young
people in New Zealand.
“I urge everyone, especially
young people, to do something
like this because it feels so good,”
he said.
“The world so often feels a
little hopeless with climate
change and everything that’s
happening in the world. But
these things on a local scale can
make such a difference.”
West
Coasters
Are you living off the Coast and would like to
keep up with the local news and events?
We have new digital editions
available for subscription.
New Season
INSTORE NOW
Scan here
03 322 4548 | Easy Parking
17 Lillian Street, Halswell
www.maxwellfashion.co.nz
Open Mon-Fri 9.30am - 4.30pm
Saturday 10.00am - 1.00pm
Check out our facebook page
digital.greystar.co.nz
LAYBY WELCOME