Residents tired of steady crime
Residents of Dinsdale, Forest Lake and Nawton are fed up with aggravated robberies plaguing the area.
Around 100 concerned citizens filled Aberdeen Primary School’s hall on September 5 to discuss what they could do about the issue and to hear what different political parties had to say.
The meeting was organised by Noeline Jefferies and Adrienne Corfe due to the recent increase in aggravated incidents in the area over the past few months.
Aberdeen Dairy, a popular choice for students of Aberdeen School, was the victim of two robberies within six weeks; residents have seen suspicious cars going down their driveways at night and strangers peeping through their windows; and people have been knocking on doors making false claims they are there to mow lawns.
Someone even had their caravan stolen.
‘‘One elderly lady that I met when doing my letterbox drop told me that she lives in the Salvation Army village and they often have their medication stolen,’’ Jeffries said.
Neil Tolan from the Western Community Centre wants community constables and Hamilton City Council community advisers back across the city.
‘‘I believe these changes would significantly strengthen and better resource our community,’’ he said.
In 2013, the West Hamilton Policing Centre on Whatawhata Rd was closed to centralise police and staff. A year later, the Nawton Policing Centre closed with the Nawton constables also being centralised.
The reason behind the centralising was that a new model of working would ‘‘be better’’ - but Tolan said that wasn’t the case.
‘‘We used to have a policing centre just 800 metres from [Aberdeen] school. It had 25 staff including two non-sworn staff and provided a complete policing service.
‘‘Many Hamilton West residents have experienced and seen first-hand the benefits of having their own policing centres and their own local constables.’’
Attendees included National MP Tim MacIndoe, Labour candidate Dr Guava Sharma, NZ First Candidate Shayne Wihongi, Hamilton City Councillors Angela O’Leary and James Casson, and Deputy Mayor Martin Gallagher.