Howick Pakuranga community patrol is celebrating 25 years of helping to keep the local community safe.
You may have seen their marked patrol cars in your street, checking on properties and keeping their eyes peeled for suspicious behaviour.
Over the last quarter-century, thanks to a memorandum of understanding with police, the core role of acting as a deterrent by serving as “eyes and ears for the police” has expanded to include liaison with Auckland Council with a focus on dealing with graffiti and refuse dumping.
Historically, regular patrols have reduced the incidence of property crime.
At the start of their shift, patrollers are directed to pay particular attention to current areas of concern. During the patrol, they are able to contact the District Command Centre to report problems and can be instructed to attend an incident to conduct surveillance or provide assistance.
The patrol is also often called on to assist with traffic control for community events such as Howick’s Midnight Madness and the Santa Parade. It is also involved in preventative initiatives such as Safer Plates, which involves replacing number plate screws with special security screws to prevent theft and use of a vehicle in crimes such as bank robberies or drive-offs from petrol stations.
There is an ongoing training programme which provides assurance to first responders that patrollers are trained and capable of dealing with incidents and emergencies.
If you or someone you know are interested in becoming a patroller, get in touch with secretary Peter Hargreaves at peter.hargreaves83@gmail.com or phone 021 971415.
