Public eyes, ears needed, say police

Press, 12 July 1984, Page 5

Public eyes, ears needed, say police

Telling the police what is happening is “not narking on people, it is you as concerned residents keeping your community safe,” Detective Michael Kyne told a group of Christchurch residents yesterday. Detective Kyne was one of eight Christchurch police officers who took part in a public seminar on household awareness.

The meeting, which was held in Shirley, attracted more than 150 residents, most of whom were in the young parent or elderly citizen age-groups.

As well as offering advice on how to counter crimes,

from burglary to physical attack, the police introduced Shirley residents to their new community constable, Constable Alex de Kort

Detective Kyne said that about 7000 cars were stolen and more than 10,000 burglaries committed in Christchurch last year. That had resulted in $lOO million paid out in insurance, loss of no claims benefits, and increases in insurance premiums, he said. For the police it was an impossibly high crime rate to fight. Detective Kyne aid that there was too much crime and not enough police to control it. The answer was not to increase the police but for the public to help, he said. “We want and need you as our eyes and ears,” said Detective Kyne. Residents should tell their community constable or the Central Police Station of any unusual activity in their neighbourhood, such as lurking strangers, and unfamiliar

cars in the street, so that crime could be prevented or criminals apprehended, he said.

Any information given to the police would be taken in confidence, said Detective Kyne. The police had people of ability and calibre to deal with it.

The police had lost its common touch during the last few decades, said Detective Kyne. The introduction of the community constable was an attempt to renew these links.

Physical attacks, particularly sexual assault, were discussed at the seminar. Detective Senior-Sergeant Roger Carson said that although the number of sexual attacks in Christchurch was not of epidemic proportions, there had been an average of 400 a year for the last few years.

He recommended that lone pedestrians at night, particularly women, should walk quickly, look confident, and wear rubber-soled shoes. The click of high

heels often drew attention to sex and solo state, he said.

Dark spots such as shop doorways, alleys, and lanes should be avoided. If a lone walker was anxious about being followed, he or she should cross the road and quicken pace to check if that was happening, and if so go for help. When driving alone in a car at night the petrol tank should be at least half full so that any necessary getaway could be made, he said. If a person was going to a locked car the keys should be in hand and a check made to see if anybody was in the back or front seats. If a car was followed, the driver should go to a 24-hour service station or the police station. If a car broke down lone women were advised to stay with it and not leave to seek assistance.

Constable Sandy Manderson said that although the chances of an attack were

very low, people should be aware of what to do. The options were to resist or not resist an attack, she said. The first line of resistance if an attacker was in the house was to make a lot of noise to draw attention. She recommended breaking a window, screaming for the neighbours, throwing things, and trying to scare the intruder away while trying to draw outside attention. If self-defence was necessary, Constable Manderson recommended that a woman aim for the groin or eyes of her assailant. Useful weapons were a comb, nailfile, heel of a shoe, or hairspray in the eyes, she said.

“Don’t use something big like a baton or a poker,” she said. “If you haven’t he strength to use it he will use it on you.” Most times an offender was unarmed so “don’t arm him,” Constable Manderson said. It was important to

have confidence in what was used for self-defence. “You can use as much force as is necessary to overpower him,” she said. Constable Manderson .advised residents to discuss - with their neighbours what they would do if attacked, particularly if they lived alone. It was also wise to advise children what to do if there was an intruder in the house, she said. The police should be called immediately.

Burglary was the most prevalent crime in Christchurch, the meeting was told. The crime prevention oficer, Sergeant Terry Blumberg, said: “We make it very easy for our burglars.” In a recent survey, one-third of 975 houses burgled had been entered without force. Either keys had been left in obvious places or doors and windows were unlocked, he said.

Sergeant Blumberg advised residents to keep a

list of the numbers of thennearest neighbours next to the telephone, to have good locks on doors, preferably ones that could lock from both inside and outside, and if moving into a new house, change locks. The role of the police, and in particular the community constable, was emphasised throughout the seminar. The audience was told that should they know, notice, or suspect something, however trivial it might appear, they should tell the community constable or the police. The constable spent most of his time in the community, getting to know the area, its various groups, business sector and the public. His base was the Central Police Station.

Police officers patrolling in incident cars were “flat out” following on the heels of crime, but the community constable had time to listen, said one police officer.

Yesterday’s meeting was the first of a series.