Call for second Raetihi policeman to cope with continual crime

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 521, 1 February 1994, Page 1

Call for second Raetihi policeman to cope with continual crime

Raetihi' s business community is to insist that the township be accorded the services of a second police officer to help resident constable Steve Hart cope with the current "crime wave." The community-owned former doctor' s residence may be offered as an incentive to attract another officer. Over 40 retailers and individuals met with Constable Hart last week to air their concerns: one opinion expressed was that retailers were being "held at ransom" by offenders. The retailers, all members of Raetihi 's Night

Patrol, expressed the need for a greater police presence within the town, especially between the hours 12am and 6am. Bennett's Furnishers proprietor Chris Bennett, said on one occasion he had been "amazed by the activity" in Raetihi 's main street, Seddon Street, during this time. Mr Bennett continued by saying that the Night Patrol had originally been formed at the request of police who, two years earlier, had told local business people to "help themselves." The patrols had initially been an exercise to reduce criminal activity within the town.

"We believe we have done this, so why aren't we winning?", he said. Insurance companies were not prepared to help retailers by lowering premiums he said, and those involved in the patrols were "too scared" to stop their nightly routine for fear their businesses would be hit. Constable Hart countered criticism about the lack of police presence in the town by citing his last nine working days, where 40 hours of that time he had spent working within the commuTum To Page 3