Neighbourhood Support

ON THE BEAT

July'08

courtesy Eastern Courier and Howick Police

30-July-08

This column is part of a series on how to help soneone who is experiencing abuse in a domestic relationship.

How to approach your friend or family member:

Your response is really important and can make a great difference.

If your response supports and encourages your friend or family member to talk about the situation, she may feel stronger and start to explore her options.

When approaching your friend or family member to talk about domestic violence it is helpful if you:

.	Wait until she is alone and it is safe for her to speak. Keep the talk private and confidential. Women and children lives could be at risk.
.	Approach her in a sensitive manner. For example say something like "I am worried about you because I've noticed……"
.	Listen. You don't have to have reasons or answers. Hear what she has to say.
.	Show empathy towards her her position as domestic violence victims are experiencing many conflicting emotions
.	Respect your friend or family member's decision if she does not want to talk about the domestic violence. She may not be ready to talk, she may be fearful of talking or she may feel ashamed. It may take some time for her to feel comfortable and safe to talk about domestic violence.
.	Support her to make a safety plan or pick up a Woman's Refuge safety plan, talk to a refuge advocate or go to www.womansrefuge.org.nz.
.	Offer to help with children / support at police / lawyers / Work & Income / transport / an address for mail / company at night / grocery shopping / clothes etc.

Whether she does talk or not she will still need your friendship and support.

If she doesn't wish to talk the columns over the next few weeks explore what you can talk about and what to avoid when talking to your friend or family member is ready to talk and confide in you.

Sergeant Brett Woodmass, Domestic Violence Coordinator

23-July-08

Over the next five weeks this column looks at how to help someone who is experiencing abuse in a domestic relationship.

This week is about recognising abuse and will be followed by how to broach the subject, when and what to talk about and avoid talking about it, and it finishes with what to do if this person remains in the abusive relationship.

How to recognise if your friend or a family member is being abused:

.	Has a friend or family member approached you and talked about being abused?
.	Do you know someone close to you is being abused and who you want to help?
.	Do you suspect that a friend or family member is being abused and you are not sure what to do?

Following are some signs that can indicate if someone is experiencing domestic violence.

Your friend or family member:

.	Seems afraid of her partner or is always very anxious to please him
.	Stops seeing friends or family
.	Stops phone call when her partner comes into the room
.	Says her partner continually phones or texts her when she is out of the house
.	Says her partner is jealous and possessive and accuses her of seeing other men
.	Has become anxious or depressed, quiet and may have lost her confidence
.	Has bruises, sprains or cuts on her body
.	Says her partner gives her no access to money or that she must justify every cent she spends
.	Says her partner wants her to leave her job

Violence against women and children includes a fear factor.

Many women and children live in constant fear of violence.

They may also fear that no one will believe them or that things will be worse for them if they tell.

It starts when the abuser's partner chooses to be violent against her to maintain the power and control in their relationship.

Next week's column looks at how to approach your friend or family member.

Sergeant Brett Woodmass, Domestic Violence Coordinator

16-July-08

I have spoken to many women who have expressed their fear of going shopping at many of our large local shopping centres.

It is true that Police are dealing with a number of files relating to bag snatches, and similar offences, and a number of these incidents have taken place in shopping centre car parks.

For many, it is essential to visit these places, to carry out business or banking transactions. For others - well, a girl needs her retail therapy!

Let's look at some strategies we can apply, to keep us safe.

- If at all possible, avoid taking a handbag out with you. A jacket with generous pockets will hold a money card, car keys, and a cell phone.

- Don't "flash" large sums of cash around as you leave the bank, or ATM cash machine; or paying for goods. While using an ATM machine keep an eye on your surroundings. You may be being watched.

- Ensure shopping, and other valuable items are stowed out of sight in your vehicle. This includes handbags, lap-tops and brief cases.

- Lock your doors until you alight from your vehicle. Keep them locked whilst you are mobile - and double check that you leave your car as secure as possible whilst it is parked.

- Don't leave hand bags or purses on grocery carts/trolleys.

- Move about with a confident "air" " If you are responsible for banking cash - take a buddy with you.

- Park where you and your car are not concealed. Park under lights at night. " Use those "eyes in the back of your head." Keep a look out at all times, and report any suspicious vehicles, people, or their behaviour to the Police. Remember, preventing crime must be everyone's priority.

Constable Adele White, Howick Police

09-July-08

Police and local councils are receiving increasing calls from the community regarding people riding mini-motorcycles.

These motor vehicles are great fun for riders but if they are used inappropriately or in unsuitable locations they can cause problems.

Complaints range from residents being disturbed by the noise, to our parks and reserves being damaged.

There are many people in the Howick-Pakuranga area with these motorcycles.

There are a few that cause havoc wherever they go and have no regard for the damage or annoyance they create.

Many aren't even wearing crash helmets or other protective gear which only puts themselves as well as others at risk.

You may be sitting there thinking where can my son or I ride our mini-motor cycle?

You are allowed to ride your mini-motorcycle on private property approved by the property owner or designated off-road areas approved by council.

Can I ride it on the streets? You may not ride it on the street unless it complies with Land Transport regulations ie: warrant of fitness, registration, licence etc.

What about the local park? Parks and reserves are not the place to ride your motorcycle unless it is approved by the council.

Councils have bylaws in place to protect parks and reserves from such situations. Should you continue to ride your motorcycle in a park or reserve then you can be prosecuted under the Reserves Act 1977. This could lead you to losing your motorcycle forever.

For those of you who are thinking about buying one in the future try to keep the above points in mind.

Remember anybody wishing to set up a neighbourhood support group take a look at www.nsupport.co.nz or give me a call at the Howick Police Station.

KEEP SAFE

Constable Merv Hotter, Community Constable Highland Park

02-July-08

To ring 111 or not to ring 111?

I regularly go to community meetings and hear stories of people in our community who witness various criminal activities but don't ring 111 at the time.

They state various reasons as to why they haven't done so. These reasons vary from, "I thought the police would be too busy" or "I thought I would pop in tell someone at the station later," or "I just couldn't be bothered and didn't want to get involved".

If you witness a crime that is taking place ring 111 immediately!

We need to know immediately.

Recently a group of four males in a stolen car went to Meadowlands Shopping Centre and attempted to snatch a hand bag.

A witness did not ring 111 but went home and an hour later telephoned police.

Meanwhile the four offenders drove to Highland Park and attempted a second snatch. That victim phoned police and passed a very good description of the offending vehicle.

Police in the area located the offenders, who were looking to do a third snatch nearby, and were able to make an arrest and recover the stolen vehicle.

This example emphasises the need to ring 111 if there's something happening now. There is always a possibility that we're already looking for the offenders nearby and fresh information is of great benefit.

When reporting crime a registration number is great but a good description of the vehicle is really important.

The police helicopter can observe and look over a large area if they have a good description of the vehicle.

This can also be of benefit to police on the ground that will quite often pass the offending vehicle on the way to the incident.

Finally if you witness an incident, ring 111. You never know next time you might be the victim and need to rely on members of the public around you to get a description and ring 111.

Constable Phil Savill, Howick Community Constable

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