Security initiative by council-police

CLOSER liaison between the Manawatu District Council and Feilding police in dealing with outbreaks of wilful damage and vandalism has been welcomed by representatives from both organisations.

Regular meetings involving council managers and police officers have now been scheduled to review security issues throughout Feilding and the surrounding rural areas.

Senior Sergeant Nigel Allan, officer in charge at Feilding, said the combined approach ensured everyone was working closely together from a crime prevention perspective.

“The police and council have a common goal in making the community safer and it’s important to get a degree of alignment between us and knowing what the issues are.”

He said the police needed to have a clear picture of what security issues and problems were faced by the council as they preferred to prevent things from happening rather than deal with the aftermath of a crime.

”Anything we can do to reduce problems of tagging and vandalism is going to be good for the community,” said Mr Allan. “It’s all about small-town policing and having a good knowledge of what’s going on and being available to work closely with other groups.”

Makino Aquatic Centre Manager, Iain Brown, said the introduction of tighter security precautions at the pool were necessary to protect an expensive asset in which all ratepayers had a stake.

He said the Makino had been the target for break-ins, with the intruders often drinking and breaking glass and creating a danger for themselves and pool users.

An increased number of security cameras, some with infra-red capabilities, had been successfully positioned in and around the complex, with video footage on a number of incidents already in the hands of police.

“One clip shows three youths, with what appears to be a spray can, and there’s another clear image of three others who were ejected from the complex after abusive behaviour to patrons and staff.”

Mr Brown, a former police officer, welcomed the formalised council-police liaison, especially with the summer holiday season approaching and graffiti and vandalism cases likely to increase.

Greater security surveillance has also been undertaken at many of the district’s parks and reserves, as well as in the vicinity of the Feilding Public Library and at notorious fly-tipping sites on rural roads.

Parks and Reserves Manager, Albert James, is disappointed at the stupid and senseless vandalism reported throughout the district and is hopeful the council-police initiative will improve the situation.