Rural scheme launched

Press, 30 July 1986, Page 2

Rural scheme launched

PA Wellington A Rural Support scheme, a country version of the Neighbourhood Support programme in cities, was launched yesterday by the Minister of Police, Mrs Hercus. Rural Support has the largest single sponsorship deal negotiated by the police with $lOO,OOO from Wrightson NMA and was as necessary as its urban counterpart, Mrs Hercus said. "With greater mobility available to everyone, even the most isolated rural communities are not

1 beyond the reach of pert sons intent on random ‘ criminal behaviour,” she 1 said. 1 Some support groups ' have already been estab1 lished in rural areas , round Gisborne, the Hau- • raki Plains, on the Coro- ’ mandel Peninsula and in • Southland. About 40,000 copies of ’ the Rural Support litera- . ture kit will be distributed nationally. r The president of , Federated Farmers, Mr I Peter Elworthy, said the t scheme was a positive aid

that country people could give to their own community and should be given enthusiastic backing. "At a time when all farming families are facing great stress the first priority must be to make sure that all country people are safe and free from fear of violence,” he said. “Rural people have to help each other to do this and I am sure that in doing so they will make positive, ■*. longlasting achievements.”