NO BULL – WITH STEVE BULLOCK
South Waikato News is pleased to announce a new columnist to our ranks.
Taupo Area Commander Steve Bullock will give a monthly update on police news across our district. By way of introduction I am Steve Bullock, the area commander for the Taupo Police which encompasses the Taupo and South Waikato District Councils. This includes the Taupo, Turangi, Tokoroa, Putaruru and Mangakino police stations and areas. I am a local boy having grown up in Mangakino and moved to the big smoke of Tokoroa in 1990. Shortly after that I joined the police and despite working for periods in Rotorua and Whakatane have never left Tokoroa.
I kind of like the small town environment where you know who is who but not their business, for me it’s home.
Christmas means different things for different people, but I am sure you will all agree it is a time to enjoy family, friends and the festive spirit. For most of us this is a special time, a time to unwind and take in the festivities, a time to give and share. Unfortunately for others it is a time of taking rather than giving and it is this minority that will keep us busy again this Christmas. These guys and girls are the ones who are helping themselves to our hardearned property and imposing their will on others, often their own family with the gratuitous use of violence.
If you see or know of anyone who fits this category let us know or confidentially on Crimesto- ppers.
Before I go I would like to share some of the successes our staff and communities have enjoyed this year. At the time of writing we have had only nine fatalities on our roads from six crashes this year.
While each and every loss of life is a tragedy this number is less than a third of what it was this time three years ago.
Our area crime is down more than 10 per cent and the major contributors to this are Putaruru (over 30 per cent) and Tokoroa (over 14 per cent).
These results do not come as a surprise, they come as a result of a whole lot of hard work by the boys and girls in blue who are supported and empowered by their communities. Safer Communities together.
I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and an enjoyable festive season. Drive safe and be safe, always.