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The new Leigh Community Patrol starts this week.
This follows months of preparation, which has included recruiting and training volunteers, setting up premises and completing all the paperwork needed to be affiliated to Community Patrols of New Zealand.
Patrol leader Kevin Lawton says it is a credit to everyone involved to have reached this milestone.
“It’s been a team effort from an awesome group of volunteers. I’d especially like to thank Peter and Anne Scott, who have provided us with the former Top Shop to use as a base, and made us the envy of just about every other patrol in NZ.”
Leigh has a vehicle on loan to start the patrol, but hopes to soon be in a position to purchase its own vehicle, depending on donations and grant applications.
The patrol will cover the Cape Rodney area from just north of Pakiri to Matakana, including Matakana Valley Road, Whangaripo, Leigh, Matheson Bay and Whangateau. Patrols will be randomly scheduled, both during the day and at night.
“We believe by just having a presence in the community, we will be able to deter anti-social, and perhaps even criminal, behaviour,” Lawton says.
Leigh currently has just over 30 qualified patrollers, who will patrol in pairs for a few hours once a month.
The group would welcome enquiries from anyone who would like to lend a hand, either as a patroller or with some of the behind-the-scenes administration and fundraising work.
Lawton can be contacted at leigh@cpnz.org.nz
Got a few dollars to spare?
The new patrol has many expenses to meet at this establishment stage and would welcome donations or sponsorship from local businesses or individuals. If you’d like to help, contact Kevin Lawton at leigh@cpnz.org.nz
