‘Community policing best way to combat crime’

Press, 22 October 1986, Page 14

‘Community policing best way to combat crime’

PA Auckland Community involvement in its own policing is the surest course towards stemming crime, says the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ken Thompson.

He told the Auckland Rotary Club that communities were realising that police numbers and resources alone could not keep back the tide of crime.

“As never before, we have seen people prepared to band in their thousands to form neighbourhood support groups and to take a stand alongside police in protecting limb and property,” Mr Thompson said. “This development is most encouraging and, in my view, is the surest course towards stemming burgeoning crime. “In the short term, so much community awareness and vigilance could see an increase in reported offences, but in the longer term criminals must surely get the message that pickings within a mobilised . community are difficult, indeed very unwise.”

Mr Thompson, who will retire early next year, said the bonus of a mobilised community also brought with it greater demands and expectations of the police. Departures from normally high police standards, such as the recent loss of a sensitive security manual in a Wellington

street, attracted considerable wrath. “Sure it was an unprofessional act, but even the best of us can make mistakes,” said Mr Thompson. “The media had a field day, but I question the fairness when that one action is allowed to eliminate the bonus points built up over a long period when hundreds of thousands of jobs have been handled in a first-class manner.” Mr Thompson said he was appalled at the trend towards violent crime, particularly attacks on the police. He doubted if the seriousness of recent firebomb attacks on police’ stations and private homes was appreciated. It was “a threat to the democratic process.” However, in spite of concerns about the crime rate he believed the police were on the right track.

“With the help of the community, together we will handle it,” he said.