Kia Ora
There’s a large number of staff who are working hard through this horrendous weather we’re experiencing. I’ve seen many photos and videos on social media and on news sites of staff out there in the thick of it helping their communities stay safe.
The public look to us for direction and support during times like this. Our purpose Be Safe Feel Safe applies to natural disasters as much as it does to crime and a photo I saw yesterday of three Police carrying an elderly gentleman through flood waters perfectly illustrates our role working alongside our emergency service partners in civil defence emergencies.
You’re all doing a great job, stay safe and keep it up!
Stopping the harm from drugs
This week Police sent a clear message to those who attempt to introduce drugs into our communities that it will not be tolerated. We released figures showing Police and Customs NZ seized a combined 403.5kg of methamphetamine and 108.1kg of cocaine in 2017
This amount of drugs in our communities would have had a devastating impact had they reached their intended users.
We know drug use and dealing increases crimes and victimisations, especially burglaries, theft and vehicle crime as users attempt to fund their habit. This criminal behaviour will not be tolerated. Police will continue to focus on those who are trying to make profits at the expense of people in our communities.
Waikato-Tainui iwi panel launch
This week I attended the launch of the Waikato-Tainui iwi panel. Iwi Panels are hugely important to Police and to our goals of reducing reoffending by Māori and reducing serious crime victimisations.
Instead of travelling a well-worn path to court then on to more serious offending and ultimately prison; panel participants are instead provided with access to health, social and budgeting services, access to driver licence training and even employment opportunities in an effort to provide skills and support in assisting them to become productive members of society.
The most common offending that comes in front of a Panel is low-level offending which is often a result of a number of underlying problems that are yet to be resolved for that person.
The value of the Panel is the ability for Iwi, Māori and the community to identify real meaningful solutions based within a whänau ora approach.
I’ve heard Panel participants say coming in front of a Panel can be harder than facing a Judge in a court room, because you have to face your own people and connecting through whakapapa increases the responsibility that we have to each other.
I look forward to seeing the progress this Panel makes and I wish them every success.
Until next time, stay safe and keep up the awesome work.
Mike Bush NZMN
Police Commissioner
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