I am starting this week with a snapshot of some of the jobs with which I have been involved.
Deb Hann – Senior Constable at the Cambridge Farmers’ Market. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Last Wednesday, we received a call from a concerned member of the public who was following a vehicle heading to Cambridge from Te Kawa. The vehicle was weaving back and forward across the road and centre line – and at times appeared to brake randomly. It also pulled in front of a truck, risking a crash. I located the vehicle as it was coming into Cambridge. The elderly driver was stopped and spoken to with the result that she was forbidden to drive until gaining medical clearance.
On Thursday evening I joined Neighbourhood Support for a rural community meet up in Maungakawa. Approximately 60 local residents joined us, along with Cambridge Community Patrol, Fire and Emergency NZ, Civil Defence, Farmgate and Rural Support. It was great to give some crime prevention advice, information about the different services and generally encourage connection within Maungakawa village.
On Saturday, Rural Support Officer Constable Corley and I conducted foot patrols at the Great Kwi Summer Festival. It was good to see so many of you out and enjoying the displays and activities on offer. This was a good family environment for all with no incidents reported.
Twice in the past week, Cambridge staff have responded to a youth who was breaching court bail and threatening others with a knife. Luckily no one was injured during these events. The young person was arrested both times and has appeared in the Youth Court facing additional charges.
On Monday, we received a few calls from the public about a family harm incident between a male and female near Commerce Street, Cambridge. They were located when a member of the public further pointed them out near Victoria Bridge. It turned out they had also come to the attention of Hamilton Police just the day before. The male was arrested and faced court for breaching of a Police Safety Order (PSO). The female was warned for breach of bail.
A final note on car interference and theft. While we are making good progress in identifying and holding offenders to account, their car crime is continuing. Cars are mostly being stolen in the early hours and driven around before being dumped – often locally. At times the thieves are driving in ways that are extremely dangerous not only to themselves but to other members of the public. While roads can be quiet in the wee hours of the morning, there are always shift workers and other commercial drivers out and about.
If you are one of these night owls and see youths driving vehicles dangerously, especially if they are travelling in tandem, call 111 immediately.
Senior Constable Deb Hann – On the Beat
