The 111 Files: Good relations cutting crime

Rural policing can never be any more rural than in the Murupara policing area, which encompasses Ruatahuna, Maungapohatu, Minginui, Te Whaiti Murupara, Waiohou, Galatea, Kaingaroa Village, Rerewhakaaitu and all the forestry and farmland in between.

The police station is staffed by five very experienced police officers, emphasis on the experienced: Eric, Rob, Leighton, Walter and myself have over 75 years combined police service.

Our fantastic station officer, Pauline, keeps us in line. I am the officer in charge of the station and am fortunate to have a group of staff committed and dedicated to this great community.

Over the years Murupara and the surrounding areas have sometimes had a bad rap, with some serious incidents, but now the community is thriving in terms of crime reduction, with declining levels for the third year running.

This can be attributed to the closer relationships built with police and the community.

Youth crime prevention is a national policing focus and in Murupara we are addressing this issue too by becoming involved with the youth in our community through positive role modelling and mentoring.

Murupara police have been involved with the coaching of the local high school first XV and the Cactus programme run by Walter, Leighton and Rob. Walter and Leighton are both ex-Bay of Plenty representative level rugby players and still play premier rugby.

Rob, a Commonwealth Games and NZ representative gymnastics champion, also coaches a group of budding gymnasts who have recently had excellent results in competitions at Whakatane and have an upcoming competition in Auckland.

Eric is our local Blue Light Holiday Programme organiser and is also on the committee of Te Ika Whenua Hunting and Fishing Club, which focuses on a number of youth activities. One of our youth philosophies is, "it is important to teach young people skills that will help them recognise and develop positive relationships with people".

Our ultimate desire is that these skills will assist them in making good and positive decisions and will keep them out of the court system and not involved in crime.

Family violence has increased in our community, but as our Assistant Commissioner Alan Boreham has said, "this is good cholesterol because now people are ringing and telling us about it not hiding and covering it up".

Murupara police attend between three and five family violence incidents a week. The majority of these incidents occur between Thursday and Sunday and a large percentage are alcohol-related.

Road policing is also a focus. We will be concentrating on targeting the fatal five factors of driving behaviour - seatbelts, drink driving, speed, dangerous driving and keeping to the left.

Please do not feel embarrassed when we pull you over in the middle of the day and request you undergo a breath test. Yes, drink drivers are apprehended in the middle of the day and deaths do occur on rural roads. Cold wintry conditions are also making our roads icy and dangerous to drive on. Remember drive to the conditions.

I am also happy and proud to be appointed a member of the Kaingaroa Forest School Board of Trustees - a school I attended many years ago and will be focusing my efforts in ensuring the current students get the quality education they deserve.

I am also looking forward to working with the community organisations in our area, including the Maori Wardens, probation service, Te Ika Whenua trust, Cayad, local council and many more.

Please come in and visit us if you are driving or walking past. The doors are always open during the week (unless we are attending jobs) and we are always happy to assist in any queries you have.

Sergeant John Cassidy is the officer in charge at Murupara Police Station.