Honour thanks to crime-loathing volunteers

TEAM WORK: Napier Community Patrol co-ordinator Sandy Ibbotson says it's thanks to her volunteers she was honoured. Ross Duncan Brown.

The honour is thanks to 270 volunteers, Sandra Ibbotson says.

The co-founder and co-ordinator of the Napier Community Patrol was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for 2017 for her services to the community.

She was shocked to be recognised but put it down to the work of her volunteers who have donated their time to make Napier a safer place.

"It is humbling and I think it belongs to the whole patrol. It just shows how special our group is as this sort of recognition doesn't happen without amazing people."

In 2006 Mrs Ibbotson, her husband Brooke and senior constable Pete Gimblett saw a need for a community patrol to make Napier a better place to live.

"I sort of fell into it and I guess we didn't want to grizzle about everything but instead actually do something about it."

Now 10 years later the group is the largest community patrol in the country and crime in Napier has notably decreased.

Mrs Ibbotson regularly speaks to community groups and has promotional stalls at events encouraging people to join the patrol.

Anyone interested is personally interviewed by her to assess their suitability and commitment.

"Police are [gaining] respect for us as we work to help them and we have gained acceptance and trust from residents. It is going really well."

Mrs Ibbotson said they worked to have two or three cars out all day and night and volunteers worked in pairs.

"It is great getting a lot of positive comments from people we see out and about and we have noticed a decrease in crime especially with theft and cars at events."

Due to the reputation of the Napier Community Patrol Mrs Ibbotson has travelled around the country talking to other community groups giving them advice on recruitment and volunteer management.

She keeps the patrollers in the loop on events and news via a comprehensive newsletter and she prepares six-monthly incident and statistics reports using information gained from patrol reports, which are then provided to Police, all patrollers, to funders and supporters.

The patrol has secured more than 50 sponsors, almost all of whom have made their commitments following approaches by Mrs Ibbotson or her husband.

The 270 volunteers range in age from 20 to 87 and Mrs Ibbotson works full-time to ensure there is good community spirit and professionalism among the patrol.