Report any concerning behaviour to the police.
That was the message from Sergeant Boyd Smart when speaking at the Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board last Wednesday.
Sgt Smart, of Mosgiel, spoke in the public forum to answer questions from the board.
Board member Phillipa Bain said there seemed to be an increase in gang presence and drug peddling in the area.
Sgt Boyd said police monitored gangs, but it was also a community issue.
"If the community does not tolerate the behaviour that gangs are known to have then it makes it harder for them to be established in the community," he said.
In response to drug peddling, he encouraged anyone to contact police. They could do so anonymously.
"From a police perspective, we don’t know what we don’t know."
Mrs Bain also asked whether a CCTV camera could be installed in Mosgiel.
She had heard about some incidents taking place in a park.
Sgt Boyd reiterated that people with any information should contact police.
Reporting issues allowed police to see trends and take appropriate action, if necessary, he said.
"If things get reported it starts to show a pattern."
Board member Martin Dillon raised concerns about the noise of motorcycles and the lack of a new police station.
Chairwoman Joy Davis asked how the police were coping during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sgt Boyd said they were doing "OK" and all positions were fully staffed.
HERITAGE FUND
Next in the meeting, Dunedin City Council heritage adviser Andrea Farminer told the board about the Dunedin Heritage Fund.
The fund is jointly administered by the council and Heritage New Zealand to support the continued use of the city’s key heritage places.
Ms Farminer wanted to raise awareness about the fund, and asked board members to pass the information on to the community.
"Through the Dunedin Heritage Fund we are able to give a range of grants to many different types of heritage projects," she said.
