Community policing goes rural

Seven Rural Liaison Officers (RLOs) are now in place in Central district, helping police the communities which occupy the extensive rural areas.

The officers have an important brief, delivering a consistent proactive and preventative approach to meet the needs of rural communities.

Based out of Feilding, Constable Neil Martin brings 20 years military and 10 years General Duties Branch experience to the RLO role he’s occupied since April last year. His patch extends from the Horowhenua boundary north to the boundary with Hunterville.

“It’s no problem to do a 200+ km run in a day,” he says.

Crime and crash reduction is at the heart of his work, but it’s as much about public relations and reassurance.

He sees his role as a community/social form of policing, with much of his early effort concentrated on meeting and greeting rural community members, getting known and getting to know the major stakeholders within the communities.

“It’s about getting going to whatever and wherever. That’s doing the local farmers’ markets, the local sale yards, school pet days, and other community events which benefit from a Police presence.

“I’ve got some good contacts now with the rural school principals and their cluster groups. That’s where you pick up eight communities in one sitting. They’re full of information and the information flows two ways.”

He’s also struck up relationships with local business owners and the rural mail contractors. “They are extra eyes and ears in the whole of the Manawatu, and if they see something suspicious or untoward, I’m only a phone call away.”

Neil’s role is a diverse one, with attendance at events as varied as the Feilding-based NZ Grand Prix, through to a NZ Bull Riding Association day at a private property in Kimbolton.
There are also longer-term initiatives which involve external partner agencies.

“If there are incidents in rural communities that show a pattern, I’ve got the time and resource to go out and examine those patterns. I’m there to complement one and two-person stations.

“You’re a facilitator, a magician – expected to solve everyone’s problems. It’s all about two-way communication to hopefully get a resolution to these problems.

“The style of policing is different to the city... it’s a matter of being proactive rather than mainly reactive and being part of the resolution process from start to finish.”

Neil says he enjoys working a Monday to Friday flexible day-shift. However, he’s available 24/7 by cellphone, and as most rural activities occur at the weekend, the roster is very flexible.

“You go out of your way to be available, and let these communities know they are valued by the Police and taken seriously.”

In return, he says there’s been an overwhelmingly positive response to the uniform presence in the rural community.

Superintendent Bill Searle, National Manager Community Policing, says he’s impressed with the initiatives the RLOs have been implementing.

“A formal evaluation of this approach is due in mid-2008, providing a guide for other areas which may want to introduce the RLO community policing model.”