Police bid to remove fears of elderly

Press, 17 June 1986, Page 6

Police bid to remove fears of elderly

Wellington reporter Statistically, the risk oi being raped, robbed or murdered in New Zealand is still low, compared with other Western democracies, says the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ken Thompson. In a speech designed to calm the fears of the elderly, he said yesterday that sports goods dealers were reporting “a brisk trade from older people buying powerful air-guns for personal protection.” People need not be so frightened, he said. In 1985, serious violence had represented just over 1 per cent of total crime and had affected only one dwelling in 116, and then “in varying degrees.” Although the record 61 murders last year had caused deep concern, they translated into “just over two per 100,000 of population.” They dropped back into perspective against the “12-times-greater” chance of dying in a motor accident.

Mr Thompson said he recognised that such statistics were cold comfort to victims, but advised worried citizens to put aside any fortress

mentality. They should leave the guns in the shops and not limit their life-style through fear. “All that is necessary is to recognise that increasing crime is a reality and that the risks have to be measured and neutralised as far as possible.” This had now, given the burgeoning police workload, to be accepted as “people’s own responsibility,” Mr Thompson said.

As an “absolute minimum,” he advised: • Sensible home security — good door and window locks; perhaps alarms.

• The development of neighbourhood group schemes.

“A community holding hands becomes powerful enough to keep villains out,” he said. “Burglars, assailants, rapists can be reduced to total impotence in the face of such unity.” Noting that the New Zealand police seemed at the moment to be “very much on side with the public,” Mr Thompson quoted as evidence the kiosk to be established in Cathedral Square, Christchurch.

“The concept of people

willing to pay for their own police office is quite incredible. Can one imagine such a thing happening overseas?” he asked. He attributed it, however, as much to fear as to regard for the police service, saying the initiative had developed from “a series of violent crimes (in Christchurch) that really frightened people.”

“The random nature of several incidents was particularly chilling,” he said. • A young man had been fatally stabbed by a complete stranger, for no apparent reason, while cycling home at night.

• Another young man had been critically stabbed after being chased by two complete strangers who had obtained a knife and randomly sought a victim — anyone.

• In New Brighton, a boy had died the day after being attacked by other youths in the shopping mall. What had appalled everyone was that the crimes had been committed by strangers upon strangers. It made people feel vulnerable.

“When things get fairly

close to home, the desire to do something about them sharply increases,” he said. He cited the number of volunteers, including youth groups, willing to take their turn at staffing the Square kiosk as an example. “There is no doubt people are frightened and feel threatened,” he said.