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News 2009See also: latest news
Notes from Robert FowlerHello Fellow Patrollers CPNZ will be launching projects to educate the general public of the Volunteer work that is being done all over New Zealand. Over the years Patrollers work has earned the respect of Police and Government. But the general Public know little of our contribution to the Countries safer communities. Operation Shield the Nation will see at the entrance of towns all over the country, our CPNZ logo. Just as we are used to seeing Rotary, Lions and other organizations Logos. Our Logo will now be placed beside them.
 BP Sponsor CPNZ BP have advised a contribution of $6500 worth of petrol vouchers. We are very grateful to BP for this support.
This was supported by over fifty Police delegates, and attended by Hon Simon Power, Minister of Justice, Commissioner of Police Howard Broad, the Mayor of Wanganui Michael Laws, Wanganui Member of Parliament Chester Borrows, Police Association President Greg O’Connor, Central Districts Commander Russell Gibson, and Area Commander Duncan Macleod. Some 250 delegates enjoyed and participated in National Training Seminar 2009.
These Key notes are bullet points only. Full details from the CPNZ Office. I wish you all safe and successful Patrolling. Robert Fowler, Chairman 2009 CPNZ National Training SeminarPresentations
CPNZ Raffle Results1st Prize 06395 (Hamilton) All Prize Winners have been notified. Thank you for supporting your local Community Patrol. The night has eyes2 May 2009 John McCrone Without pause, another policeman is telling of a group of irate women demanding entry to a central city bar. We can hear their banshee shrieking in the background as he laconically describes the scene to the girl in the control room. I catch some comment about pepper spraying a couple of them. The shrieks increase. Back on channel 1, the radio is reporting a three-car rear-ender at the lights. Magically, a few seconds later, we round the corner into Harper Avenue and there it is before our eyes. Bent cars at odd angles. Passengers and drivers in their separate huddles, looking lost. We sail past. I am learning Community Watch does not have time for rubbernecking. It has its own job to do and really is not a surrogate police force. Another laconic report on the radio. Apparently a gang of 12 skinheads are storming the party of students we saw earlier in Wainui Street. Knives observed. The team policing unit - a roving van with the batons and riot gear - has been called in. Trouble seems to be breaking out everywhere we are not, I remark. All we are getting to see is mostly deserted streets. But we are doing our scheduled checks, says Parfitt. Again, that is our job. We spot an abandoned supermarket trolley on the verge. Jill notes its location on her clipboard. Another small service of the Community Watch. It records the new graffiti, missing street signs, burst water mains, derelict cars, broken street lights. Lets the appropriate people know the next morning. Don't you ever get any real action, I ask? Parfitt says they had to help the police cordon off Riccarton Rd the other week when kids left a shopping trolley on the tracks and stopped the train. Parfitt confesses he has never actually caught a tagger in the act. They are too slippery. But he often arrives at the scene with the paint still wet, some youths looking shifty. He and Jill have had their moments. There were the four boys and girls they spotted with a large suitcase at a bus stop in Fendalton. The boys were wearing jackets and ties. They could have been tourists headed for the airport. But Parfitt has a nose for the suspicious. There had been a local break- in. He parked up at a suitable distance and called the police to make the arrests. At night-time, the streets are full of watching eyes, really, says Parfitt. There are the taxi drivers, the security firms, the tow truck operators. They know when things are out of place, when the police should be alerted. Well past midnight, we give Wharenui primary a last once-over and also drive down Wainui St. No sign of skinheads or police. The garden bonfire is just glowing embers. Jill, who is more experienced at interpreting police radio shorthand, tells me it was two parties on facing sides of the road getting entangled. A bit of lip followed by some teeth-baring, most probably. Nothing major. For Christchurch, it has been a quiet Friday night, says Parfitt. Certainly nothing that will make any newspaper headlines tomorrow. We turn into the Parfitt's own street just in time to see a boy racer pull up and a passenger stagger towards the nearest bushes with a determined look. Jill laughs. We know what he needs to do, she says. Parfitt casts a playful spotlight over the lad as he fumbles for his fly. Now come on Geoff, says Jill, it really is time for our own beds. Parfitt says it is just to let him know someone is watching. The blundering beasts of the night, the meandering 1K-ed herd, needs to be kept gently reminded that the city has not entirely been given over to them once the sun has set. Even if it sometimes sounds like it. A WATCHFUL EYE - Riccarton Community Watch
Message to all CPNZ Patrollers, Police and other parties23 April 2009 A TV ONE Close Up programme aired on Monday night (20 April), regarding prostitutes in Papatoetoe, described the two men involved as a community patrol. The men have no affiliation or connection to our organisation. The conduct of these two men harassing prostitutes and citizens, in the manner shown, is unacceptable. I have been in contact with Close Up and they clarified the position on Tuesday night but not everyone will have seen it so I call on all involved with CPNZ to communicate this message. Robert Fowler Papakura Community Crimewatch Patrol donates car to Maori Wardens8 April 2009  Community patrol chairperson Colin Lowry [right] hands over the keys to Maori warden co-chairperson Richard Noble. The Papakura Community Crimewatch Patrol donated a car to the Papakura Marae Maori Wardens last Tuesday April 7. Patrol Chairperson Colin Lowry said the patrol committee chose to give the car to the Maori wardens because they do complementary patrol work. The donated car is a 1984 Datsun Bluebird which was originally donated to the Community patrol by local family the Closey’s. The keys were presented by Mr Lowry to Maori warden co-chairpersons Richard Noble and Stewart Walker (Ngawaka). Mr Noble wished to thank the Community patrol and the Closey family on behalf of the Maori Wardens. “It’s a very rare thing today, for so many community groups to cooperate and come together like this,” he said. The car will improve the mobility of warden patrols and their scoping ability to identify hotspots, he said. Mr Walker said the car will be the only vehicle owned by the Maori wardens, with existing patrols being performed on foot or in one of the warden’s personal vehicles. Acting Police Area Commander Inspector Gary Hill said he had noticed the community spirit of Papakura since transferring to the area recently. The multi-agency approach to tackling crime in Papakura by the Community patrol, Maori wardens and the general public enabled the police to be more effective, he said. “The more eyes and ears out there, the better opportunity we have to prevent and suppress crime.” The Community patrol was recently given a council grant to buy a new vehicle, leaving them with a spare.  Hokitika Community Patrol presented with the Organisation of the Year Award 2009 by Westland District Council. Holding the certificate is Community Constable Mark Watson, the Police liaison officer for the patrol. The Hokitika Community Patrol was presented with the Organisation of the Year Award for 2009 by the Westland District Council Thursday morning 16 April 2009. Her Worship the Mayor Maureen Pugh presented the award to the Chair of the local committee Frances Stapleton in recognition of the achievement. Only some members of the patrol were able to be present although the Hokitika Patrol now has 19 members. The Mayor commended the patrol for the work it had done since its inception in December 2007 and congratulated the patrol for their committment to making the patrol a reality. Derek Blight
Kath Fowler - Community Crusader, Kapi Mana News, April 2009 John Key donates car to community7 April 2009 Prime Minister John Key has donated a very smart Holden Calais to a community patrol for the Helensville electorate A car donated by John Key has given a kick start to a community patrol aimed at preventing crime in his Helensville electorate. Sergeant Mike Colson says the thirty volunteers are undergoing training at the moment and he hopes they will be able to start before the end of April. But he says they would not be able to do that without a car, so they were fortunate to get the Prime Minister's very smart Holden Calais VX. He says it is the envy of all community patrols.  Western Bay of Plenty Patrols Dinner Boost for crime patrols, Howick and Botany Times, 4 March 2009 Night Watch Nelson Car Rally a great success, Feb 2009 |
