A Gisborne woman is alive because her neighbours heard something that ‘didn’t sound right’ and called Police, says the officer in command of the Whāngaia Ngā Pā Harakeke (WNPH) family harm team.
Officers called to the scene arrested a man who has been remanded in custody on a number of serious charges.
“We’ve been back to thank the people who called us because without them we could have been responding to something very different,” says Senior Sergeant Greg Brown.
“When we spoke to them they were glad to have helped someone but also revealed their own story, which was a strong motivation for choosing to call Police despite knowing that some others would consider them ‘narks’.
“I struggle with people who think it isn’t their business, because in a way they're saying what is happening is OK, and we know abuse is never OK.”
Several years ago the neighbours had their own issues with family harm but sought help after seeing regular police messages in the media about stopping violence.
Greg says their call enabled Police to respond quickly in the latest case.
“I can’t stress how important it was for these neighbours to make that call,” he says. “The victim found herself in a place where she was seriously concerned for her life and unable to get herself and her children to safety.
“We are thankful someone took positive action. That’s all we want - if people hear or know something, then we need them to seek help. That can be Police, the refuge or anyone they trust, but the key is for them to make that step and reach out.
“In the words of the neighbour who called us, ‘Neighbours should be like whānau, we should look out for each other’.”
Greg says the neighbours’ strength came from having overcome their own adversity.
“They took strength from that and vowed to never let it happen to them again. They described hearing things coming from the victim’s house before, but this time it was different and they knew they had to do something.
“Their journey has now come full circle, and they've helped someone else.”
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