City Safe Guardians on the beat next month

Rotorua's City Safe Guardians project is set to kick-off next month.

Peter Mumby, Helen Coombes, Rita Nieuwoudt, Gavin Pike and Robyn Coleman have been appointed as City Safe Guardians by Rotorua District Council (RDC) to patrol the CBD and surrounding reserves seven days a week.

The guardians will commence employment on Monday 5 December with a week of training before they begin patrolling the streets from Monday 12 December.

RDC community safety projects officer Amy Duckett said she was really impressed by the calibre of the five new recruits.

"The team brings a wide range of skills to their roles, from world experience and volunteer work to medical, security and police training. They've done it all, and I'm confident the guardians will help make our central city streets feel much safer."

Ms Duckett says RDC’s City Safe Guardians project is based on other successful safety patrol models operating around New Zealand.

She said the guardians will work on a 40 hours per week roster, with at least two staff members working on any one day. Operating hours will vary across the day and evening, with times adjusted to focus around CBD events and identified trouble spots.

“City Safe Guardians will be extra “eyes and ears” for the council, Rotorua Police and local businesses, with the aim of reducing crime and troublesome behaviour, and improving perceptions of safety in our CBD and surrounding reserves”, says Ms Duckett.

The guardians will also work closely with Rotorua Police and other stakeholders to ensure the success of the programme.

Funding has been made available from Rotorua District Council and Ministry of Justice to run the City Safe Guardians project from December 2011 to June 2012.