As we embark on a busy summer period, initiatives are under way across the district to increase feelings of public safety.
Warmer weather and longer daylight hours will see more people in town centres and public spaces, attending events and festivals, and using the roading network.
Though each community in our district has unique needs during this season, high-visibility engagement with the public is the common thread through all prevention activity.
We heard from Area Prevention Managers about the tailored initiatives they have in place to support locals to Be Safe and Feel Safe this summer.
Māhi Ngātahi (Wellington Area)
Constables Zabron Mohuanga and Yama Bashiri walking down Lambton Quay.
Wellington Area Police are back on the beat with Op Māhi Ngātahi.
Deterring retail crime offending and antisocial behaviour is the focus of the high-visibility operation.
Special attention is on the Manners St/Te Aro Park area, which at different times of the day and night presents different challenges.
“We know from previous years that this approach works," says Inspector Jason McCarthy, Wellington Area Prevention Manager. "It helps people feel safe and retail crime drop.
“We are focused on these areas because of the increased number of shoppers in the CBD this time of year. School exams are finished so we expect to see more youth in town. Māhi Ngātahi is part of our contribution to the Pōneke Promise - to make central Wellington a safe, vibrant and welcoming place for everyone.”
Staff are working closely with Wellington City Council’s Hāpai Ake and Retail First groups to successfully deliver on the intent of Op Māhi Ngātahi.
All areas and some district workgroups are supporting the operation, which runs across retail hours Monday – Friday. Māhi Ngātahi will run until 24 December.
Beachside policing - Wairarapa Area
Holiday hotspots in the Wairarapa keep staff busy over the summer.
For the Wairarapa area, summertime brings an influx of vacationers looking to make the most of the sun and waves on the eastern coastline, and adventurers who can’t resist the allure of the Wairarapa’s unique geography and outdoor activities.
“Our beach community population swells over the summer months with batch owners and campers," says Sergeant Steve Cameron, Relieving Prevention Manager Wairarapa.
"We also get a lot of drivers and motorbike riders coming over the Remutaka Hill —whether transiting through the area or spending the day enjoying the culture of towns like Carterton, Featherston, Greytown and Martinborough.
“We’ll provide a visible presence in these communities for that extra reassurance. For those using our roading networks—Restraints, Impairment, Distraction and Speed (RIDS) is our focus. Those four factors keep people alive on our roads."
Local staff run a beach policing operation at Riversdale and Castlepoint every year and are visible in rural communities throughout the summer period.
There’s a special focus from 30–31 December for those who like to ring in the New Year beachside, and maybe with a cheeky midnight swim.
Tū Ngātahi (Hutt Valley Area)
Constable Matt Thomson speaks with a shopper at Upper Hutt Mall.
Tū Ngātahi is a Hutt Valley Area beat operation that aims to increase visibility and feelings of safety among the community of almost 50,000 residents in Upper Hutt.
The Upper Hutt Community Team are engaging with partners and involved in community activations, including occupying a vacant store front in the Upper Hutt Mall for a few hours each day.
Other workgroups from the area are also contributing to the operation. Already, a police presence is making a tangible difference.
Members of the public say it’s good to see more police out and about and, anecdotally, there’s been a reduction in retail crime since the operation started in early November.
Hutt Valley Prevention Manager Inspector Shaun Lingard says staff are really enjoying getting out and about in the Upper Hutt Community.
“Whilst this is a simple model of policing it strikes at the heart of Prevention First and connects us with our community. Retailers within the mall have told Police that shoplifting has reduced, and the presence of Police has enhanced their feelings of safety.
“We’re also taking the opportunity to recruit future police officers. Several members of the community have already been linked up with our recruitment specialist.
“It is very pleasing to see the contributions made to Tū Ngātahi by all Hutt Valley workgroups especially given their significant demands,” says Shaun.
In the heart of the city - (Kāpiti-Mana Area)
Outside the pop-up hub in Porirua CBD.
Since September, every Tuesday between 10am-12pm, Porirua Community staff have been interacting with locals and retailers at the pop-up hub on Cobham Court.
"The public and local retailers enjoy having a visible Police presence in the heart of Porirua City to enhance feelings of safety," says Inspector Owen Maurirere, Area Prevention Manager Kāpiti-Mana.
“We’ll continue with a high-visibility community-centric approach across the many festive celebrations and events in December in both Kāpiti and Porirua. After a reasonably challenging year, we want to support our locals to have fun and be safe while they do so.”
Kāpiti-Mana Prevention and Response staff will also continue to focus on RIDS conducting checkpoints alongside Road Policing at high-risk times and areas.