How safe does Kaitaia want to be?

WATCHING: Security manager Bill Frost on camera monitoring duty at the Kaitaia police station.

Kaitaia has the opportunity to benefit from a ground-breaking new approach to crime prevention according to Mayor John Carter - if the business community is prepared to pay for it.

Mr Carter last week unveiled a proposal that originated from Te Aupouri Maori Trust Board earlier this year. Total Security Management stumbled a few weeks later, when the trust board closed in the face of reportedly significant financial problems, but it was now up and running under the umbrella of the Far North Safer Community Council.

And it was already having a positive effect, according to the town's senior police officer.

"There has been a noticeable fall in burglaries in the commercial area, and that trend will continue if Total Security Management develops as Mr Carter hopes it will," Senior Sergeant Ryan said.

"It needs the town's support for that to happen though," Mr Carter said.

TSM had been established as a non-profit commercial entity (with any surplus income that might be generated to invested in further measures to enhance community safety). Mr Carter emphasised that it was not a charity; there would be no funding from outside the town, and it would have to prove commercially sustainable very quickly.

The break-even point would be reached with a client base of 200 businesses, at no greater cost than many were already spending on security services. As of last week it had 40 clients.

Employees would be paid, as opposed to volunteers, after completing a rigorous selection process that included police vetting. Ten jobs had already been created, and he saw potential for a significantly more.

"The focus is on preventing crime," he added.

TSM's security manager, Bill Frost, said the service would be responsible for monitoring alarms, static patrols (providing security for specific locations/premises), patrols throughout the town after dark and monitoring security cameras from the police station. (The Kaitaia Business Association is currently upgrading the town's CCTV network, with 40 cameras so far and 78 more to be installed soon, some business owners contributing to coverage of their own premises).

"Cameras are great tools for fighting crime, but they have to be in the right place and pointing in the right direction. They need someone to monitor them (so they can be used to prevent crime as opposed to reacting to and possibly solving it), and we have to have someone to deploy as required," Senior Sergeant Ryan said.

Mr Carter believed TSM could deliver that service. Its staff would monitor the cameras at high-risk times, and would be in radio contact with their patrols and and the police.

"This is a brilliant idea," Senior Sergeant Ryan added.

"It's ground-breaking stuff, with the potential to change the face of Kaitaia in terms of community safety. And there is potential for it to be replicated in small towns throughout Northland, and the country."

Mr Carter warned however that while TSM had made a great start, if Kaitaia wanted the service it was going to have to front up.

"It won't cost anyone a lot of money if 200 businesses, hopefully more, get on board, and it will make this town safer than it is now, or has been for some time," he said.

"There's been a lot of talk in the past about what can be done and what needs to be done. Now we need to see action.".