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If you like the idea of slowing driving through the streets, day or night, with eyes and ears alert to any suspicious behaviour, you could be just what the Hibiscus Coast Community Patrol is looking for.
Community patrols are voluntary organisations that provide extra eyes and ears for police and are also a visible presence in the community.
Locally, Whangaparāoa Community Patrol looks after the peninsula up to Red Beach and the Hibiscus Coast patrol covers from Okura up through Silverdale and Red Beach to the Puhoi River and across to Dairy Flat, Coatesville and Wainui.
The Hibiscus Coast patrol currently has around 40 active patrollers and is seeking new volunteers so that it can expand its operations.
Hibiscus Coast Community patrol leader, Sandra Sweetman, says the rapid growth of new subdivisions in the area mean more patrols are needed.
“We would like to double, or even triple, our number of patrollers,” she says.
Patrollers travel in pairs – under the Covid regulations they are always in their vehicles, rather than patrolling on foot.
They are in constant communication with police and report anything suspicious, so that officers can take appropriate action. Recently, their sharp-eyed observations have assisted police in the recovery of stolen vehicles, apprehending of offenders stealing from cars and finding missing people.
Broken infrastructure and graffiti is also reported.
Before each 3-4 hour patrol, police alert the volunteers to any particular areas of concern or interest.
Full training is provided and regularly updated. As well as sharpening your observational skills, the role may include tasks like helping secure an accident scene or directing traffic until police and emergency services arrive.
Fire extinguishers, first aid and AED equipment are carried in the patrol vehicle.
Sandra says a key benefit of becoming a patroller, as well as making a contribution to the community, is that it involves camaraderie with like-minded people.
Patrollers are all police vetted and must be double vaccinated for Covid-19.
Info: email hibiscuscoast@cpnz.org.nz, phone 021 027 46229 or see ad this page.
