As Cambridge Community Liaison officer, one of my roles is to be the police liaison officer for our Cambridge Community Patrol (CBCP), part of the national community patrol network.
Deb Hann
Every week, CBCP puts out a two-person patrol around town in the evenings. They are our extra eyes and ears and come from all walks of life. We are grateful for the volunteers who give generously of their free time. They are also extremely fortunate to receive generous financial support from local businesses, especially C&R Developments who provide and maintain the patrol vehicle.
With such support, CBCP are able to play an important role in the Cambridge Community. In July 2024, CBCP completed 24 patrol nights equalling 164.5 patrol hours, with 18 of the 24 registered patrollers making it happen.
During their night-time sorties, CBCP proactively patrols Cambridge, with specific attention given to advised crime hot spots. They are on the lookout for anything suspicious including stolen cars, suspicious people, insecure premises and disorder. They are regularly tasked to assist police in an observation role with searches for missing people and to look out for offending vehicles or people. They work closely with the on-duty police to alert them to anything they find. CBCP applicants are subject to an informal interview and Police vetting process then undergo procedural training before being buddied up for their first patrols. If you are interested in volunteering, check out community patrols online.
Last Wednesday you may have noticed we had a particular focus on road policing.
We were targeting restraints, impairment, distraction and speed, which are key contributors to road trauma. A number of drivers were spoken to about infringements. Of note, one driver was caught between 9 and 10am driving with a breath alcohol level more than three times the legal limit. Shockingly, the male had driven all the way from Auckland and was a recidivist offender who was at the time also disqualified from driving. It just goes to show that we need to be aware of the potential for dangerous behaviours by other road users at any time of day or night.
Finally this week, a reminder around temporary speed limits. Where road works are occurring, a temporary reduced speed limit will be in place. This is to ensure the safety of the workers and reduce the chance of crashes due to reduced lane widths or inferior road surfaces under repair. If you are going through road works, please slow down.
Deb Hann – Senior Constable at the Cambridge Farmers’ Market. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
