October 1 2024
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Police presence in Dargaville u by Andy Bryenton
Northland police area commander Maria Nordstrom and Kaipara mayor Craig Jepson met last week to walk through Dargaville, meeting business owners struck by a recent spate of crimes.
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The mayor and senior police officer heard first-hand the frustrations and fears of those targeted by smash-andgrab nighttime raids, but also received thanks and gratitude from those who had witnessed a quick response from law enforcement or the news that offenders had been caught. “We thought it was timely to go and talk to the business community in person, and tell them that we care,” said mayor Jepson. He and area commander Nordstrom were strong in that reassurance, stating that while police numbers are finite, there will be resources rostered for Dargaville at all times. That would be coordinated from the Whangārei central command centre during some hours, but officers on the ground will be primed for timely response. For example, when thieves bungled a robbery at Dargaville’s Can-Am dealership, falling foul of security measures, officers were on the scene in five minutes. “I live 6.8 kilometres from town, and I was very pleased that the police were there before I arrived,” says dealership owner Lindsay West. He raced to the scene after being awoken by an alert in the early hours of the morning. Other miscreants have also learned that rumours of Dargaville being a soft option for theft are overstated. Two individuals were arrested last Wednesday for a robbery at Matich’s restaurant, while others have been apprehended for selling stolen goods following a vape store raid. Previous ram-raiders have also been caught, due to a combination of extensive high-definition CCTV camera coverage,
p Police area commander Maria Nordstrom hit the streets with mayor Craig Jepson to talk crime and prevention
public cooperation with police, and the criminals’ own actions. Investigations are ongoing, and police are confident that all those responsible will face justice. Mayor Jepson and area commander Nordstrom agree that a long-term solution to police resourcing rests with active recruitment. To protect Dargaville and boost the police presence for the future, more Dargaville people need to join up. “We need to recruit locally in order to better serve the local community,” said area commander Nordstrom. To that end, a police recruitment seminar will be held in Dargaville on Wednesday, October 16. The intent of the
event is to attract young people to sign up and help make the process of training to become a police officer easier. Some may worry about their levels of academic achievement or physical fitness, but extensive support is available for anyone who wishes to serve their community and protect their neighbours. The seminar will be held at the SEED co-working space, home of the Dargaville Community Development Board, in Foster’s Arcade, off Victoria Street, from 5.30pm to 7pm. Sergeant Joe Te Ao is helping make it possible, and he’s the one to contact to register, or for more information. Please email joseph.teao@ police.govt.nz. ¢
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