Retailer faith result of `better police presence'

An increased police presence in down-town Whangarei is behind a rise in the number of people reporting crime and a renewed confidence in the `thin blue line' among retailers.
So says Whangarei and Kaipara police area controller Inspector Paul Dimery, who is delighted that a Northland Chamber of Commerce survey found inner-city retailers had a restored faith in police and were reporting crimes they would not have a year ago.
Last year, 44 percent of retailers said they had not reported any crime to police, compared with 29 percent this year. Also in 2006, 19 percent of respondents said they kept silent because they had no confidence in police, but that had fallen to 12 percent in the latest survey.
The survey found that graffiti, intimidation by youth and damage to vehicles were the most common crimes in the central city.
Almost three-quarters (72 percent) of businesses reported crime committed against them in the past year, while more than a quarter (27 percent) had been targeted more than five times.
The annual survey is part of an initiative of the Safer Whangarei executive group which includes police, Whangarei District Council and the chamber.
"Whangarei police are continuing to have a high visibility in the CBD and this is having a positive effect," Mr Dimery said.
"Police and community working together mean a safer CBD for the public, businesspeople and retailers and this attracts local people and visitors to the area."
While results from the survey, such as the perception of crime, the profile of offenders and location of crime, remained about the same as last year, there was a slight increase in crime experienced, particularly graffiti, he said.
Mr Dimery said graffiti was a concern expressed by communities throughout the country and it needed a community response. The City Safe Programme, which was to start within the next two months and involved the community, would help reduce crime.
The programme is based on a scheme in Wellington, which resulted in a 40 percent drop in the level of perceived crime there. Under the programme, trained CitySafe officers would become the eyes and ears for the district council and police.