Neighbourhood watch groups, improved street lighting and a
stronger police presence were among the initiatives discussed
at a public meeting in Kaitangata last night.
About 70 Kaitangata residents, Clutha district councillors
and representatives from the police and fire service attended
the two-hour meeting in the Kaitangata War Memorial Hall,
which Kaitangata and Districts Promotions chairman Beau
Williams said was very positive.
The meeting was arranged by Mr Williams and S.
Joyce Beck to spearhead a community response to the recent
spate of arson attacks in the town.
"The whole idea was to get everyone on the same wavelength
and communicate with police," Mr Williams said.
Until the town could get good communication lines operating,
the police would not be able to do an effective job, Mr
Williams said.
"The information-sharing was pretty good."
One of the questions raised the possibility of setting up
neighbourhood watch groups, which he believed would go ahead.
"[The police] told us how to go about setting that up."
An "upshot" from the meeting was that everyone was now aware
there would be a stronger police presence in the town, he
said.
However, Mr Williams was pragmatic about the length of time
it would take to change things.
He said the meeting represented a community taking
responsibility and moving forward.
"There is no silver bullet."
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