Speak up and stop family violence
Steve Bullock is the area commander for Taupo police, which encompasses Taupo, Turangi, Tokoroa, Putaruru and Mangakino police stations and areas. This week he warns people to drive to the more unpredictable road conditions, congratulates the people of th
Another month down and, as they say in the Game of Thrones, ‘‘Winter is coming’’. Nights are longer and days are shorter, for some this also means shortness in tolerance in our homes and on our roads. Statistically speaking family violence and road crashes increase during the winter months and we need to be looking at these now and not after they happen.
I know the unpredictable weather makes our roads more dangerous and crashes are almost exclusively caused by drivers not driving to the conditions. Drink and speed don’t help either but I am sure you are with me in knowing that every crash can be prevented. To say ‘‘accidents happen’’ is not good enough, a crash is a crash and not an accident.
While I am resolute with crashes, I am still at a loss to understand how family violence can continue to be so highly represented in our modern society. These victims are our family and friends, our loved ones – yet we, as a society, have yet to overcome this monster.
I know I bang on about it but enough is enough, speak up folks. If you love them then make an intervention, words are cheap, take action. The violence won’t stop until you do, and if you don’t, the violence will escalate, that’s how simple it is. If you know it is happening now then do something, tomorrow will be too late.
A month or two ago I talked about crooks who do not work but have all the money and flash toys and of the need for our community to speak up. Well a huge thanks to those of you who did. Last month we executed a number of warrants and at one located dealing quantities of methamphetamine and over $17,000 in cash.
This address had more toys than Santa’s workshop. Motorbikes (road and off-road), electric bicycles, generators, chainsaws, every electrical tool imaginable and some unimaginable, a workshop full of hand tools, power tools and gizmos, unbelievable, trust me this place had it all. Other addresses saw the location of large amounts of cannabis and cash, once again our thanks go to those who spoke up.
While we have been out policing the illegal drug trade I note that the South Waikato Community has once again rallied to protest about the legal drug trade, yes I am talking about the synthetics.
A lot of people ask what are the police doing about it? Surely they should be doing something? Let me tell you straight from the horse’s mouth that the sale of psychoactive substances from the R18 shop in Tokoroa is being policed to the very best of our ability within the confines of the present law.
The fact is that this activity is legal at present and while the current legislation is being reviewed and regulations put in place we have no choice but to uphold the law.
I know that these substances cause grief, misery and harm in our community and I ask each and every one of you who have a story to tell to tell that story, and more importantly to name the actual substance.
Tell it to us or tell it to the health providers. Remember see something, say something.
I guess some of you are wondering how my roar went this year so here goes. I know where lots of stags live but none of them wanted to invite me in. Actually they called me in only to shut up shop when I got close. The only thing I did see was a poisoned possum which I quickly put out of its misery.
While doing the humane thing, I think it also helped with my misery of not seeing any stags. Sorry, the other thing I saw was a poacher’s vehicle and he will soon be trespassed and have his firearms licence reviewed. On the poacher front I can tell you that it is bloody scary sitting in the bush at low light when you hear a dog yap immediately after a roar that sounded un-mistakenly human. Straight away I thought dog, poacher, low light, movement, what if I move? Will this idiot shoot at movement? How far away is he? Let me tell you that the possibility of being the hunted and not the hunter is not for me. I waited until total darkness then turned on a torch before moving out. Some may say, or think chicken, but hey I am still here and as I always say – better safe than sorry.
Be safe, drive safe and feel safe always.