Patrols support police

010415PBpatrol ON PATROL: Paul Tindale, John Rocke and Trevor Woon by one of the Community Patrol cars. PICTURE / PAUL BROOKS

By day they roam the streets in twos, their high-viz vests and ID proclaiming their official status; by night they cruise in specially marked cars, watching for things untoward and noteworthy.
At all times, these men and women are in contact with the police.
Volunteers all, the Community Patrols are extra eyes and ears for the police force, in an observe and support role.
The patrols operate out of new premises in Ridgway St, down the corridor from Mainstreet, having moved from their busy Community Police kiosk in Maria Pl some months ago.
"We don't mind people calling in if they've got things they want to talk to us in relation to what we do," says Patrick O'Leary, Community Patrols committee treasurer. That also applies to things they'd usually tell the police ... things like reporting vandalism.
More than 50 volunteers man the Community Patrols, forming three divisions. The Ridgway St office comprises the daytime patrollers - by car and on foot - covering the central business district five days a week; the night patrol covers Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights with two people in the vehicle: the third division monitors the CCTV screens at the Police Station.
The day patrols have two in the street and one in the office, rotating as required. "The night patrols are integrated with the police units on the night so we're in contact with comms and the units - we're logged in to comms in Wellington like a police unit; we go to the muster fall-ins at the change of shift and we get the same information. The duty sergeant brings the patrols up to speed with everything that's going on ...
"We have a partnership agreement with the police through our national office," says Patrick. "It's growing as an organisation and gaining a higher national profile."
With cars equipped for various emergencies, the Community Patrols can assist with traffic duties as well as other more hands-on responsibilities, so it's a lot more than investigating strange lights or unlocked gates and doors - although that's still a part of it. "We'll check all the alleyways behind the buildings, shine the torches around, looking for things like people loitering, people doing graffiti or vandalism. If we spot something the police will come."
Monitoring the CCTV cameras has been part of the Community Patrols' duties since December last year. "So far I have 18 camera operators trained," says Patrick.
As close co-operation with the police is part of the patrols' brief, a stint as a volunteer can be an ideal introduction to the culture of the police force for a young person looking for a career, he says. "It's something the police encourage, because we have access to the Police Station, we go to meetings, they meet the cops and see the systems in operation."
Community Patrols consist of all age groups of both sexes, but all the volunteers want to do something in and for the community.
Funding for the patrols comes in grants and assistance from Wanganui District Council via the Safer Communities Fund, Wanganui Toyota, Powerco Wanganui Trust, Property Brokers, Display Associates and Maxilab, among others.