My Account
Police gave a public meeting in Silverdale on May 8 a clear message: “If you see or hear anything that may be related to a crime or a possible crime, report it.”
About 100 people attended the meeting at the Silverdale School, convened by Whangaparaoa MP Mark Mitchell, to discuss law and order.
Whangaparaoa police officer Sgt Brett Hanly said resources were deployed where there was a problem.
He said if members of the public did not report what they were seeing and hearing, then police could not build patterns of behaviour and this would impact what was prioritised.
A member of the audience said he was afraid to report the bullying and threats his son had encountered because of the threat of further violence.
Sgt Hanly said police were aware of this sort of intimidation and there were ways to give police information that did not identify the source.
Youth crime was the focus of much of the discussion, with members of the audience concerned about the fact that some of the perpetrators were as young as 13.
Mitchell said there needed to be a fundamental change in the way sentences were being handed out to youth offenders. He said if National was elected, it would reintroduce the mandatory sentencing law (three strikes) and establish a compulsory 12-month long military-type camp for youth offenders, aged 17 to 25 years.
Police acknowledged that many youth were “lost” with no parental control or guidance.
“What we are seeing is an inter-generational problem – many of the parents of today were equally neglected by their parents and grew-up in dysfunctional family environments,” Sgt Hanly said. “It’s complex and needs a carrot and stick approach.”
See it, report it
Call 111 – If it’s an emergency or if it is happening now
Call 105 – For non-emergency events that have already happened and don’t need urgent Police assistance.
Call 0800 555 111 – Call Crime Stoppers anonymously when you know about a crime that has been committed, you suspect a crime is being planned, or any other activity you think is illegal.
Go online to – 105.police.govt.nz for non-emergency events that have already happened and don’t need urgent Police assistance.
In person – Warkworth Police Station, 6 Falls Street; open Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm
