The 111 Files: Act if you suspect dodgy behaviour in your area

In the early hours of March 13, 1964, Kitty Genovese, aged 29 years was returning home after a finishing a shift in a bar. She parked her car less than 100m from her apartment in Queens, New York. As she was walking towards her apartment a sexual predator, Winston Moseley, began following her.

He approached her from behind and stabbed her twice in the back causing her to fall to the ground. When she began screaming, he ran off fearing neighbours would come out; or at least call the police. None did. So he returned to the scene, stabbed her another 15 times and then raped her. The attack lasted for 30 minutes.

When someone finally did call the police they were there in two minutes, but tragically too late to save Kitty. She died later. The police determined 38 people had heard Kitty Genovese screaming but did nothing.

Almost 50 years have passed and we'd all like to think things have changed. But have they? When one of Kitty's neighbours was interviewed 20 years after the event by Newsday magazine she remained unremorseful, justifying her inaction by saying she heard screaming "all the time" in her neighbourhood.

About five years ago Rotorua police investigated the death of Nia Glassie. Some would argue that public indifference in that case was much worse than in the Genovese homicide, as Nia's abuse went on for weeks; sometimes in the full view of neighbours who chose to do nothing.

Both of these cases raise disturbing questions. Why are people sometimes so indifferent to the needs of others? Surely we can exercise a bit of responsibility for what goes on in our own neighbourhoods and communities? I think the 17th century Irish philosopher Edmund Burke summed it up well when he said "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

If you see or hear something that does not seem right, my advice is to go with your instincts. If you think the situation is one the police should be responding to with urgency, call 111.

One of the mantras of the Rotorua police is "See something? Do something." If we all do that one simple thing and take action when we see people behaving in a way that is a danger to others, we will have a much safer community.

Inspector Bruce Horne is the Rotorua police area commander.