Raetihi constable has back-up, says Sgt

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 522, 8 February 1994, Page 1

Raetihi constable has back-up, says Sgt

Raetihi residents have the same police resources as Ohakune, according to Waimarino Police Sergeant Bob Evans. Sergeant Evans told the Ruapehu Bulletin that residents should be thinking in terms of a "Waimarino entity", rather than two separate policing identities. While administration is kept separate, he said that police resources - which includes staff - are available to the entire area, not solely to Ohakune. Of the seven staff in Ohakune: Constable Ian Harrison is traffxc officer for the entire Waimarino region; Constable Brian Wilson is responsible for Youth Aid and the Law Related Education Programme (L.R.E.P) currently in schools; Sergeant Bob Evans is responsible for the adminis-

tration of both stations; the remaining four officers are "sectional staff' and inyolved with patrols, attending incidents and conducting enquiries. Sgt Evans said 30-40% of work time by Ohakune-based police officers is spent in the Raetihi area, involved in such activities as 'pro-active' policing (patrols) and responding to incidents. In response to last week' s meeting by residents and retailers that called for a second police constable for Raetihi and 24-hour policing, Sergeant Evans said that a second police presence would not be an instant deterrant for criminals. "Even in centres where 24 hour policing is in effect there is still a crime problem", he said. "Another constable stationed in Raetihi is not going to make the problem go away."