Constables Neil Kettings and Jan Craig, who started in the positions last week, join Senior Constable Niall Shepherd, Dunedin Central's long-standing community constable, to form a new community policing team.
Sergeant Wayne Pitcaithly, of Dunedin Police, said the team would be working with the community to solve local problems and issues.
‘‘The team will provide a highprofile police presence in the central business district with increased foot patrols and a return to the old ‘bobby on the beat' approach to policing,'' he said.
‘‘The positions focus on providing advice on crime prevention to community and business organisations.''
Const Kettings, who spent eight years in general duties policing before taking the position as a community constable, said the move was part of Dunedin Police's efforts to permanently increase their visibility in the city centre.
‘‘It's a new position for me, but the end goal is the same - to reduce crime,'' Const Kettings said.
Const Craig made the move to community policing after spending six months working in family violence policing and felt the new position would offer new challenges.
‘‘It will be a change from family violence . . . . The response from the community so far has been very positive,'' she said.
The team will also assist with the monitoring of licensed premises and follow up inquiries relating to compliance with the Sale of Liquor Act.
Snr Sgt Shepherd, who has been on the force for 29 years, said it was an area the police determined needed extra manpower.
‘‘So many offences or incidents have an alcohol component to them that it really is something which could always use a few more people,'' he said.
Dunedin area commander Inspector Dave Campbell said the positions complemented and strengthened the existing community police staff in the city.
The team has recently been joined by another community constable working in youth offending and an additional constable position, for the Kaikorai Valley Community Policing Station, is expected to be filled early next year.
