ON THE BEAT July'09

courtesy Eastern Courier and Howick Police

29-Jul-09

Schools have gone back for term three and police have seen a far higher percentage of road users out and about.

They not only consist of parents dropping children at school, but also children cycling or walking to schools.

Police ask motorists to remember that children are vulnerable and that they are at higher risk of injury from motorists.

This means that particular care needs to be taken in and around schools.

Some factors that contribute to crashes involving children near schools are children stepping out from behind vehicles or drivers becoming distracted due to lack of attention to the road and surroundings when travelling at speed.

Research has shown that speed is a significant factor in the cause of crashes. Speed can also determine the severity of injury. This coupled with other factors like fatigue or alcohol dramatically increases the risk of crashes involving serious injury or death.

When a child is struck by a vehicle, even a few kilometres over the speed limit, it can literally mean the difference between life and death.

A child hit by a vehicle travelling at 60kmh has a 15 percent chance of survival while a child struck at 50kmh has a 55 percent chance of survival.

At 60kmh, it will take 50 metres to stop from the time you see a child on the road, while at 50kmh it will take 41 metres.

Police request that all motorists drive to the conditions and circumstances.

At schools this might mean driving significantly slower than the posted speed limit.

Motorists need to be alert for pedestrians and cyclists and not become distracted.

Police will rigorously be enforcing speed restrictions in the vicinity of schools. A zero tolerance policy is in place when issuing infringements in this regard.

Police activities in terms of speed will not only be confined to schools. Motorists need to be aware of the changing speed restrictions on different roads.

Sergeant Lyon Dunn, Strategic Traffic Unit

22-Jul-09

The link between alcohol and criminal offending is well documented - this extends from general disorderly type behaviour and drink driving, through to family violence.

From reviewing local statistics for youth traffic offending involving alcohol, they are unfortunately, well represented.

In 2008, of the under-17-year-olds the police youth aid section dealt with for driving with excess breath alcohol, their breath alcohol levels ranged from 178 micrograms (mcg) of alcohol per litre of breath to 634mcg.

The breath alcohol limit for under 20 year olds is 150mcg.

Considering that these intoxicated young people were stopped whilst driving and, in some cases, after being involved in a traffic crash it is a very disturbing picture.

Many of these young people were driving their parent's cars and were breaching their driver licence conditions at the time. This is not an uncommon occurrence.

Each time there is a report of anotherfatal traffic crash involving young people, there is much heartfelt regret and hand wringing by the wider community. But it continues to happen and I say without any doubt that it will happen again.

There are many reasons as to why I make that prediction - parents will continue to permit their children to drive, without any accountability, the examples set by "adults" towards driving and police traffic enforcement does rub off on others, young people will inherently take risks (this is part of growing up) and when alcohol is added to the "driving mix", it can lead to tragedy.

The community should support efforts to reduce the road-toll. Next time you or a member of your family receives a ticket for a traffic infringement, don't dismiss it.

Take the opportunity to consider the big picture and support police in their efforts. take some responsibility to lead by example.

Constable Jackie O'Donoghue, Howick Youth Aid

17-Jul-09

From the Police Youth Aid Section perspective this holiday period has been pretty much as expected.

There has been the usual disorder and alcohol related offending, particularly Thursday night through to the weekend, but it is dishonesty that continues to feature prominently as the crimes young people commit most often.

We regularly receive files for children and young persons who have been caught involved in thefts and stealing.

Again this is often the case at school holiday times when children and young persons are out and about unsupervised.

Parents need to be monitoring closely the property and merchandise your children arrive home with.

Don't be afraid to challenge your children about where they have obtained these items.

The old excuses of "I'm just looking after it for someone" may not be true. Some children tend to be predisposed to stealing.

The parents of these children need to spend time with their children discussing the issues relating to property ownership and a person's or business's right to property.

Reinforcement of these values is important on an ongoing basis.

I know there are families out in our community experiencing difficulty with their children.

If you are in this category my advice is seek some help, and do it early.

There is no shame in asking for support. It is your job and responsibility as a parent to raise your kids, but there are agencies that will help you.

If you know someone who is having trouble with parenting please encourage them to do something positive.

If you do nothing the problem will get worse.

The police, Citizens Advise Bureau, community houses, school counsellors and others can refer you on to parenting courses and support groups.

Sergeant Keith Olsen, Youth and Community Services, Howick

10-Jul-09

Regular readers of this column will recall that late last year I wrote about the problems caused by drivers who don't seem to know how to drive - specifically around roundabouts.

I've noticed in recent weeks that driver behaviour in respect of indicating at roundabout intersections continues to be poor at best.

Therefore I've reproduced the key points of the previous column for those who may not have seen it the last time, or who are still a little confused.

Common faults are drivers who signal to the right but then drive straight ahead, drivers who signal to the right but then fail to signal left when turning off the roundabout.

Some drivers are too lazy to signal at all.

Some drivers are so busy talking or texting on their cellphone they don't seem to know where they're going! Problem is, no one else knows either.

Unfortunately, none of us are mind readers and without flashing indicators we often can't tell where other motorists are going to go. Using ones indicators is not a courtesy thing, it's a requirement set out very clearly in the law and the Road Code.

For anyone who is unsure about the rules regarding the use of indicators at roundabout intersections here is a link that will take you directly to the Road Code. All the information you might need is there. http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/roadcode/about-driving/giving-way-at-roundabouts.html

While on the subject of intersections, I must stress the importance of stopping for traffic lights. Yes, we're all busy people. Yes, we all have places we need to be, and in a hurry. But if you drive through an amber or red light you are breaking the law.

If you get an infringement notice for failing to comply with traffic signals you only have yourself to blame. It doesn't matter how good a driver you are, or how good your car is. Red means stop - end of story.

We all have a responsibility to get the vehicle crash rate down.

And don't forget to look twice for bikes.

Sergeant Keith Olsen, Youth and Community Services, Howick

03-Jul-09

The term "Domestic Violence" is now a mainstream term in our media and social setting.

It is a major issue affecting the lives of far too many New Zealanders and creates significant social and economic costs for society as a whole.

So what is domestic violence? It can be defined as a pattern of abusive behaviour in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another partner.

It covers a broad range of controlling behaviours, commonly of a physical, sexual or psychological nature which typically involves fear, intimidation and emotion deprivation.

- Physical abuse - hitting, slapping, shoving, hair pulling, biting, etc. It also includes denying partner medical care or forcing alcohol and or drug use.

- Sexual abuse - coercing or attempting to coerce any sexual contact or behaviour without consent. It also includes, but is not limited to marital rape, attacks on sexual parts of the body, forcing sex after physical abuse has occurred, or treating one in a sexually demeaning manner.

- Emotional abuse - undermining an individual's sense of self-worth and or self-esteem. This can include constant criticism, diminishing their abilities, name calling or damaging one's relationship with children.

- Economic abuse - making or attempting to make an individual financially dependant by maintaining control over financial resources, withholding access to money, or forbidding one's attendance at employment.

- Psychological abuse - causing fear by intimidation; threatening physical harm to self, partner, children, or partners family or friends; destruction of pets and property; and forcing isolation from family friends or work.

Domestic violence occurs in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships and can happen to intimate partners who are married, living together or dating. It can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion or gender and affects people of all socio-economic backgrounds and education levels.

For help or advice phone Victim Support 0800 VICTIM (842 846). Women's Refuge offer free confidential advice on Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10am to 1pm, at the Howick information service building, Picton St. Men's advice and support is available Fridays 1pm to 3pm. at the same address. No appointment necessary.

Sergeant Brett Woodmass, Family Violence Coordinator