A bid will be made in coming weeks to start a community patrol in Balclutha.
Earlier this week, a Timaru couple who had parked their campervan near the Balclutha Bridge were harassed by two young people, prompting the couple to call for a community patrol in the town.
In an email yesterday, the Otago Daily Times was contacted by Dunedin South community patrol chairman Tubby Hopkins, who had, coincidentally, approached Clutha police and the Clutha District Council about the idea of a patrol in the town.
‘‘I feel, reading media reports and comments made by friends regarding the ongoing incidence of crime and disorder in the region, that the time may be appropriate to try and foster some local community interest in the formation of a community patrol in the area,'' Mr Hopkins wrote in a letter to both council and police.
He said many authorities see crime and disorder simply as a police issue but he personally believed it was a ‘‘three-way issue'' involving police, local council and the community.
‘‘I have no doubt that the community has the ability and can play a big part in helping to reduce crime and to make their town a safer place given the opportunity.''
It has been found throughout New Zealand that a good patrol can be a useful and cost effective tool, acting as an extra ‘‘set of eyes and ears'' for police especially in smaller areas with limited night and weekend police coverage, Mr Hopkins said.
It also gives the community some responsibility for what happens in the town, he said. He was keen to meet the council and police to see if the idea can be taken any further.
When approached for comment, Balclutha community coordinator Irene Mosley said she fully endorsed the idea of a Balclutha community patrol and suggested it would probably work better than a proposed liquor bylaw in the town.
‘‘We have a few issues here in the town that need addressed but they are still manageable. But we can't be like other areas and let it go on for too long or we will be looking back wishing we had done something sooner.''
No date has yet been set for a meeting but Mr Hopkins hopes it can be held in May.
