Community patrols challenged to build on relationship with police

Around 200 delegates gathered in Hamilton recently for the Community Patrols of New Zealand (CPNZ) National Training Seminar.

CPNZ is an affiliation of local volunteer civilian patrol groups. Nationally there are over 4,000 members in 78 groups.

The seminar was a mix of practical demonstrations, workshops, and keynote addresses. Workshops looked at streamlining interactions with NZ Police in the area of Intel gathering, interacting with Communications Centres and the gathering and recording of CPNZ statistics.

A highlight of the seminar was visiting speaker Inspector Tony Lake of the Queensland Police who gave a keynote address on Crime Prevention through Environmental Design.

CPNZ Chair Neil Sole said the theme for the weekend was the recognition of five years of hard work to establish a credible national body uniting a wide range of patrols across New Zealand.

“The next challenge is to build on the strong relationships we have built nationally with Police National Headquarters, the New Zealand Police Association, the Crime Prevention Unit and the insurance industry. We look forward to improving the quality of the reporting done by patrols locally so that it best meets the needs of crime and crash reduction in those communities,” says Neil.

Superintendent Alec Waugh who attended the conference, says the numbers attending and the emphasis on community safety illustrated local support throughout New Zealand for their local police. “Observing, recording and reporting was the essence of Community Patrols, and the opportunities to further enhance patrol groups energies and skills was the next challenge,” says Alec.

Inspector Morris Cheer, Community Support Manager, agrees: “CPNZ has become a very credible advocate for community patrols and that community patrols affiliated to CPNZ were providing valuable support for police as extra eyes and ears.”

State Insurance announced a package of additional support to Community Patrols which will provide vehicles and vehicle running cost packages to selected patrols.