New Police boots have hit the ground running in Christchurch, with the launch of the new Community Beat Teams in the city this month.
Extra police staff have taken to the streets from 1 July, as Police look to boost their visibility and presence in public spaces, allowing them to be responsive to events and areas in the city that have caused concern. A roster of 10 officers will be patrolling city areas of demand during certain times of the day and night. Over coming months this roster will increase.
Superintendent Lane Todd, Christchurch Metro Commander, says seeing that blue shirt out and about helps people be safe and feel safe. “We know that one of the greatest things we can do to improve peoples’ sense of wellbeing, and their trust and confidence in Police, is to be in places where we’re seen.”
The Beat Teams will be deploying to areas and at times when we know there is increased demand. This includes the central city, large malls across the city, large suburban retail areas, and bus hubs. Should incidents occur that need more support, other available staff and/or specialist groups will be available to assist.
To keep deploying to the right areas, Superintendent Todd says they need people to keep contacting Police to report crime and anti-social behaviour. “We rely heavily on our community to let us know when and where things are happening, so we know where to put our people. Our regular deployment model, and most certainly where our Beat Teams will patrol, will be heavily influenced by information we have, and continue to receive, from the public about areas of demand.”
The Beat Teams will be working closely alongside existing Community Patrols, Christchurch City Council, Business Canterbury and retailers. “By working together with existing partners, we can be of most benefit to local people and organisations who already have a stake in keeping our city safe,” he says.
Business Canterbury is throwing its support behind the launch of the initiative. Chief Executive Leeann Watson says: “The introduction of the Community Beat Teams is a significant step forward in ensuring the safety and security of our business districts. Our members have consistently highlighted the need for increased police visibility, and we’re happy to see this proactive approach being implemented after a year of advocacy on the issue.
“We believe this initiative will encourage more people to visit, shop, and enjoy our commercial areas, which is vital for the ongoing growth of Christchurch and Canterbury.”
Christchurch is building towards having a team of 18 officers and providing seven-day coverage over the next few months.
Image credit: New Zealand Police
