Editorial: Time to reclaim our streets and our community

Andrew Austin, Editor of Hawke's Bay Today.

Hawke's Bay has been through a rather disturbing time recently with a number of incidents of women being indecently assaulted, some in broad daylight.

This is simply not acceptable as we all want to live in a society where anyone can feel safe as they go about their daily business.

Earlier this month Hawkes' Bay Police announced a team of detectives were investigating five indecent assaults against women in Napier, Taradale and Havelock North.

I think most law abiding citizens are fairly good at keeping themselves safe, but it seems that the level of perversion and depravity knows no bounds.

There is no question that police are taking these incidents seriously and have worked hard to get to the bottom of them. I cannot say much more about that side of things because matters are before the court in one case.

One good thing to come out of this whole sorry saga is how the community has reacted. There has been an outpouring of support for those women assaulted and I think generally people are keeping an eye out for each other. It is very important that the community does not allow those responsible for these acts to win. The community is standing up to say enough is enough.

In today's paper we have a report on a Napier woman Jenny Keown who has organised a public march, dubbed Reclaim the Streets, to take a stand.

Mrs Keown told Hawke's Bay Today that women in the community had been deeply affected by the attacks and she wished to do something about it.

The public walk will take place on Saturday, November 25. It will start at 2pm at the Soundshell on Marine Parade and take participants along the waterfront, up Coote Rd, on to Shakespeare Rd and down Browning St before ending at the Magnet Cafe.

More information can be found at www.facebook.com/Napierwalk/.