Canterbury Police have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the 'Police' branded tractor that will be used to promote the steps people can take to prevent rural crime. After a short delay due inclement weather the tractor has arrived in the District and is ready to play it’s part in our District-wide prevention activities.
Inspector Corrie Parnell said “The tractor will be taken to a number of local A&P shows including Hawarden and Oxford and the South Island Agricultural Field Days at Kirwee. We are also hoping to use the tractor in other rural areas in the District to promote crime prevention activities. The tractor is kitted out with Police decals, lights and even a siren! It has been a big hit with young and old in the north island and we anticipate a lot of interest from our rural communities in Canterbury.”
"CB Norwood Distributors have loaned Police the blue New Holland tractor and will be transporting it around the District so keep an eye out for it! The tractor is designed to promote discussion of the challenges faced by our rural communities. This includes road fatalities, drugs, personal safety, stock theft, illegal hunting and existing partnerships with Crimestoppers, SNAP and Federated Farmers with the "Shut the Gate" campaign."
Police face many unique challenges when working rurally due to geographic limitations on cell phone coverage and the distances and surfaces our rural officers need to travel on.
“We have a great team of officers attending the events with the tractor and encourage anyone who is heading along to them to take time to speak to the officers and discover how we can work together to keep our rural communities safe. The Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit will also be attending to give advice and answer questions relating to transporting oversize loads and using oversize vehicles on our rural roads” explained Inspector Parnell.
The tractor will be at the following events:
Hawarden A&P Show (Hurunui) – 21 March 2015
South Island Agricultural Field Days, Kirwee (Selwyn) – 25-27 March 2015
Oxford A&P Show (Waimakariri) – 4 April 2015
“This is a fantastic opportunity for Canterbury communities and Police to showcase the benefits working together delivers so that everyone can feel safe and be safe” says Inspector Parnell.
We will be posting photographs of the tractor as it travels around the District on our Canterbury Police Facebook page and @NZPCanterbury Twitter feed. There will be lots of opportunity for ‘selfies’ to be taken with the tractor for your own social media pages!
If you’re planning on coming along to any of the events please drive safe and remember to lock doors and windows before you leave home and secure any valuables out of sight.
ENDS
Issued by: Lisa-Marie Brooks, District Communications Manager, Canterbury Police District. Mobile: 021 942 404
