Community patrols growing

Community Patrols of New Zealand (CPNZ) marked their 10th anniversary at the end of June with a training seminar in Taupō, where the national movement first began.

This year the seminar coincided with Volunteer Awareness Week, which had the theme ‘Volunteering across the Generations’.

All community patrollers are volunteers and range in age from 18 to 88, the average age being 52.

Back in April 2000, the Taupō Community Patrol and their local Police liaison officer Constable Grant Tullock decided to contact similar groups within a 200 kilometre radius to see if there was any advantage in forming a national organisation.

Following a two-day meeting, the patrol groups decided there was a need for a national body to guide and assist existing patrols and help set up new patrols. Community Patrols of New Zealand was established.

Taupō Police Station was chosen as the venue for signing a memorandum of understanding between CPNZ and Police in March 2002.

CPNZ is now a growing movement with 120 community patrols and more than 5,000 people helping Police keep their community safe from crime.

Each community patrol is supported by a police liaison officer, who assists with training and information.

Chairman Robert Fowler presents Taupō community patroller Ian Pilbrow with the first ever CPNZ gold shield award for service, with Taupō Community Constable Grant Tullock looking on. Photo: Fridolin Kathan

The three-day annual national training seminar attracts around 300 delegates, including 50 police officers from throughout New Zealand.

Speakers at the seminar included Taupō MP Louise Upston, Taupō Mayor Rick Cooper, Assistant Commissioner Jon White and Superintendent Grant O’Fee, who’s in charge of policing the Rugby World Cup.

Grant’s presentation was of particular interest, as community patrollers will join other volunteers to help keep World Cup visitors safe while in New Zealand.

A number of patrollers were publicly recognised for their help to police officers and members of the public.

Napier Community Patrol was acknowledged for significantly reducing the number of thefts from vehicles in their community.