Night Patrols To Check Auckland Vandals

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30635, 29 December 1964, Page 10

Night Patrols To Check Auckland Vandals

“The Press" Special Service

AUCKLAND, Dec. 28.

Larrikins at beaches in the Waiwera - Orewa - Whangaparaoa area this summer mayhave unpleasant shocks if they are planning night-time vandalism. There are extra police squads at the more popular beach resorts, and the beach patrolman for the Waitemata County Council has a truck fitted with spotlights and twoway radio link with police cars.

He is making nightly patrols along the beaches in an attempt to stop vandals from smashing signs and rolling rubbish baskets and tins into the water. With his new radio he can call for police assistance immediately to deal with larrikins. “Not Even Waited”

“Actually the larrikins have not even waited for the summer to start,” said the patrolman (Mr E. Shelly). “They have already torn down a lot of signs and destroyed baskets at Waiwera.” With nearly 200 miles of coast to patrol and keep free of litter during the holidays, the Waitemata County Council faces a huge task. Wardens and county workmen will be on the job during this period trying to keep the beaches clean.

The Auckland City Council also prepared for the sum-

mer rush to the beaches. Various organisations helped to clear the eastern beaches of broken bottles. Extra rubbish baskets and tins have been distributed-

Men from the parks department will clean the major beaches daily throughout the summer.

“We do our best but I am afraid that, going by past experience, we are fighting a losing battle with the litter,” said Mr G. Dean, director of parks and reserves (administration). “We cannot keep people off the beaches while we clean every inch,” he said, “but the public should remember that the beaches start off the season clean.

“They can help to keep them that way by using bins and instructing their children to deposit rubbish in the correct places.”