Leaders look to curb crime
With brazen criminal activity escalating around the country, Hamilton City Council and police are hoping a collaboration will decrease the levels in the city.
They are also inviting the new Police Minister, Chris Hipkins, to visit.
Initially a collaboration between the council and police, the Safer City Task Force has expanded to other leading organisations such as Waikato University’s crime science department, Waikato Tainui, community social organisations, Oranga Tamariki, and Kā inga Ora.
It began two years ago as an opportunity to share information and knowledge about the city.
The partnership had now moved into the tactical area – identifying priorities, what was working well and what was not, mayor Paula Southgate said.
There were obvious targets. ‘‘Smash and grab in the dairies and the liquor stores which leave people quite traumatised at times. And the ramraids. We aren’t experiencing the same type of crime as in Auckland but you know people are feeling less safe.
‘‘Crime isn’t something we can solve by ourselves, crime prevention is the whole community.’’
Hamilton city area commander Inspector Andrea McBeth said working together to improve some simple things could actually have a really positive impact on crime reduction across the city.
‘‘People securing their car on their property, not leaving valuables in the car on the property, and we could actually have a positive impact on burglaries in the city.’’
McBeth said the university had been impacted by quite a bit of dishonesty crime, which had led to subsidised steering wheel locks and a review of environmental design.
’’Some areas attract crime and some deter it because of the environment.
‘‘So lighting makes people feel safe, compared with dark, dimly lit quarters – people don’t feel safe as crime likes the dark.’’
She wanted to see places like the university and council areas putting environmental design at the forefront. Another tool they were looking at was the city cameras which had the opportunity to detect crime early, as well as assist in keeping police and members of the public safe.
‘‘We are looking to see if we have quality technology in the city but also if we have those cameras in the right locations – crime corridors and areas we know are going to assist a police response, in terms of deterrents and also apprehension of crime.’’
It was for this reason they were hoping to meet with minister Poto Williams last week but a Labour reshuffle saw her ousted from the portfolio to be replaced by Chris Hipkins – who Southgate will be inviting to the city.
She wants to use her political sway to ask the Government for more resources. ‘‘I can ask to make sure the amount of resourcing for police is relevant to the community. We are a fastgrowing community – look at the south end of Hamilton – Peacocks is going to open up, we have still got the same police numbers.
‘‘I was surprised to learn that the police don’t have any aerial surveillance in Hamilton. We don’t have a helicopter – the crime helicopter is in Auckland.
‘‘There is new technology coming from drones and other kinds of things.’’
Another aspect of the Safer City Task Force is using social resources because prevention can be around capturing young people before they become involved in crime.