Police

Wingate: Firearm charges result from Wednesday night Checkpoint

Two people are due to appear in the Lower Hutt District court next Friday following an assault on Wednesday night at an alcohol checkpoint at Wingate Crescent Taita.

Police say the car was stopped for a routine breath test at Wingate overpass about 7pm. They say the driver 22 was arrested on a fines warrant and his passenger 17 was detained after punching one of the arresting officers several times. Firearms & ammunation were also found in the vehicle. Both men were remanded and will appear on a variety of charges relating to assault, drugs and offensive weapons.

Several other related incidents occurred as the result of the strong Police present, including drink driving evasion resulting in cars being pulled over at NaeNae Shopping Centre. (see below)

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Epuni: Police seeking help over robbery of Mini Market

A shop owner was knocked to the ground while his mini-mart was robbed of tobacco and cigarettes.

Police are looking for three Maori men who robbed the Epuni Mini Mart in Oxford Terrace, Lower Hutt, at 6pm on Tuesday.

One attacked the owner and knocked him down, while the two others grabbed cigarettes and tobacco before running away.

One man wore a black hoodie with a white pattern on the sleeves.

The second wore black shorts and a white and black hoodie.

The third man wore a white hoodie and black trousers with white shoes.

 

Taita: Police investigating childs death not suspicious

Update

The death of a two-month-old girl in a Taita house this morning is not being treated as suspicious.

Acting Senior Sergeant Steve Braybrook said an autopsy would determine the cause of death.

It was not believed to be suspicious.

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Lower Hutt police are investigating the death of a child at a Taita house this morning.

No details were available on the age or sex of the child and Lower Hutt CIB were not available for comment.

Police, ambulance and firefighters were called to the Taita house just after 1.30am.

Petone: Bomb Scare at NZ Racing Board Headquarters

Police cordoned off part of Petone this morning after a beeping package was delivered to the New Zealand Racing Board building.

The army bomb disposal unit was called and searches undertaken of the NZRB National Office to establish whether to destroy the package there or take it away and deal with it, said Inspector Mike Coleman of police central communications.  Police bomb dogs were used to search the NZRB building.

The package was about A4 in size and was beeping. It was delivered about 8.15am.  Traffic between Jackson St Victoria St and Hutt Rd was closed to traffic.  By 11.00am the incident had been identified as non threatening the offending object identified as a cellphone couriered to the NZRB and the situation was down graded with roads re-opened.

Nearby businesses Briscoes and The Warehouse were also evacuated.

Evacuees at the time were taken to the Petone railway station.

 Photos of incident from Edna_Phillips here Thanks Edna

Hutt Rail: Police presence on trains underway

A regional initiative announced back in April to increase the police presence on trains is gaining momentum, with Lower Hutt police riding trains almost every day.

Each day, two to three constables from the police community engagement team usually jump on a train, check out the carriages and chat to passengers. Constable Paula Harris says the initiative started about six to eight weeks ago, with a training session from KiwiRail.

“We got taught basic safety stuff like how to move through carriages safely, holding onto the handrails,” she says.
Rail staff appreciate seeing police on trains, she says.

“They say sometimes they have problems on the Friday or Saturday night services with disorderly behaviour so we try and get onto those. For us, it’s an opportunity to raise our profile and be more visible. Public transport takes a lot of people everyday so it’s about getting used to seeing us, where people usually don’t.”

Though curious looks and questions of “Is something wrong?” were the most frequent reactions, Ms Harris and the team were hoping people would get used to the police presence and approach them if anything was needed.

In a recent survey conducted by Hutt City Council, 58 per cent of people said they felt at risk of being a victim of crime or sustaining an injury at train stations. And 51 per cent felt they were at risk on all public transport. A police presence, while rated below security wardens and better lighting, was listed as one of the top requirements for people to feel safer. Ms Harris was hoping to address that by having police on trains.

“It’s a chance to check out problems like tagging around stations.

“We get off at a station, have a look around, check for anti-social behaviour and get on the next train.”

Wellington Community Policing Manager Inspector Karen Smith says having police patrol the trains and platforms was a natural extension of the work they already do in the community.

No Police Merger in Hutt Valley

The report is out, and it is good use for opponents of Project Awakairangi . This issue has caused a great deal of concern amongst the public and staff over the way this project has been handled. HuttNZ has also expressed concern over how this matter has played out and also expressed doubts as to the release of the outcome, I stand corrected and am glad the matter has been made public.

Announcement 

The Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt police areas will not be merged, police bosses have announced.

Wellington district commander Superintendent Gail Gibson said today she had reviewed the report on project Awakairangi – which was looking at amalgamating the neighbouring police areas – and decided to retain Upper Hutt’s area commander role.

Police wanted to provide the ”best possible service” to the public, she said.

”We have decided that part of that service includes Upper Hutt retaining their area commander.”

However, reviews of police resources in the district would continue.

Ms Gibson thanked the Upper and Lower Hutt communities for their submissions on the proposal.

”During the project process, support for police in Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt was clearly apparent.”

Police authorities announced in February that they were looking at options for the two districts. At the time, Superintendent Pieri Munro said he did not want the number of frontline police to change or for police stations to close, but that a reduction in behind-the-scenes staff was possible. One of the area commanders might lose their job, he said.

The region’s civic leaders were upset by the merger proposal, Upper Mayor Wayne Guppy called it the biggest issue his community had faced, while Lower Hutt Mayor David Ogden said he could not understand why police would want to change something that was working effectively.

The two districts have about 240 staff in total.

Hutt Valley Police – Merger update Upper Hutt says NO

Upper Hutts petition against a police merger with Lower Hutt police has gained more than 6000 signatures.

Organisers hope to take it to Parliament later this month but a further push for more signatures is under way this week and more petition forms will be taken around the CBD this week.

People are very angry that police district commander Superintendent Pieri Munro did not attend last weeks meetings (see below), and unfortunately this I believe has lite the fire for more anger over this proposal.

Local MP Chris Hipkins has ben an advocate of the petition by collecting signatures around Upper Hutt

“One of the messages I will be giving the minister that came through very strongly is local people’s expectations that focus on frontline policing. Any review that would take senior police out of the Hutt Valley seems to be going in the wrong direction. The minister has an obligation to make sure this does not happen. That seems to be totally at odds with the government’s stated commitment to frontline policing services”

The petition can be signed at Upper Hutt City Council, Library, McArthurs Real Estate, Chris Hipkins electorate office, Upper Hutt Leader.

Below is the link to the website, and an opportunity to download a petition there as well

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May 5th

Last week two public meetings were undertaken by the Police in Lower and Upper Hutt.

Police have advertised these meeetings as a chance for locals to put their views to the police on what works with local policing and what doesn’t. Project Awakairangi is a police review of services they provide, the project is about which local services would the public like to see, or retain, the most and which could they do without. 

The police have had terms of reference for this project available. The underlying principles behind the project are below

“A project team has been established with Terms of Reference to explore enhanced safety and police service delivery opportunities in the Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt police area commands.

Superintendent Pieri Munro, Wellington Police District Commander, has asked for a report with findings and recommendations by 30 June 2009.

The project is called Awakairangi – the Maori name of the Hutt River formed by tributaries from the surrounding ranges and their combined flow through Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt, joining with Wellington Harbour at Petone.

Superintendent Munro acknowledged news of the project had raised some concern amongst police staff and the public. He hopes the public discussion paper including Terms of Reference will help provide understanding and reassurance for staff, and the Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt communities.

He reassured people that no police stations or community policing centres will close; that face to face service delivery to the public will not be diminished and that the purpose is to enhance safety of the public and police.

“Seeking the views of police staff and key partner agencies including local councils will be an important part of the project team’s focus,” Superintendent Munro said. “This includes opportunities for face to face meetings and other communication and feedback tools including web based technology.””

I attended the meeting in Upper Hutt which had  roughly about 80 people turn up at the Hapai Club in Fergusson Drive last Thursday (A summary of the Lower Hutt meeting is here).

In general terms most of the Upper Hutt residents feel that this project is about merging of police services under one district with Lower Hutt being the principal station, Upper Hutt being reduced to a satellite station.

There has been strong opposition to this project in Upper Hutt with a petition doing the rounds and an active website www.nopolicecuts.co.nz citing rational reasons for the possible outcome of this project not to proceed. Even the local Upper Hutt Mayor was upset over the scheduling on this meeting, as it clashed with a well advertised Community Planning meeting.

Having attended the meeting I walked away with no clearer picture of what the Police are intending to do with this Project, equally that was probably not their goal. Most certainly I can attest that they should have got the message that people within Upper Hutt are not happy with any reduced police staff numbers in their community.

While I understand the need for mangement reviews, they are usually ongoing and generally do not require public input to reach a conclusion. I have no doubt that be guaging public opinion from these meetings, a requirement has been satisfied (community involvement) and as such will be used as a precussor to a major operational change in policing in the Hutt Valley.

I will wait the outcome of the report from Mr Munro, I hope the findings will be made public, not lost in obsecurity but again I have my doubts as other Police reports have shown .

If anything the Police representatives should have come away with is that the community expects transperancy from the Police as to its goals and operational dealings especially as they directly relate to the community it serves.

Just front up and tell concerned citizens why the project was implemented in the first plce and what are the goals?

Police to travel on Trains in the Hutt

If you see police on a Tranz Metro train out of Wellington, don’t be alarmed – it’s a new initiative between Tranz Metro and community policing.

The project, launched from Wellington Railway Station today, literally takes police in a new direction.

Having Community Constables using the trains provides people with an extra opportunity to discuss local concerns with Police. “It’s along the lines of policing where the people are”, says Inspector Michael Hill, Acting Area Commander for Wellington. “The rail network is widely used so we are getting the ability to work on and from trains”.

In the near future, Community Constables may be seen talking with passengers on the Upper Hutt, Melling and other rail lines. With many commuters choosing the convenient, environmentally friendly trains, it is hoped they will use the time to discuss local concerns.

“We work closely with the authorities and we are delighted that Police are using the Tranz Metro train service like so many Wellingtonians,” comments Mark Pettitt, Security Manager of Passenger Rail at KiwiRail.

via NZ Police

Hutt Police Review – Project Awakairangi

Public meetings are being held in Lower Hutt next Tuesday the 28th April (7pm Little Theatre) and in Upper Hutt on Thursday 30th April (7pm Hapai Club, 879 Fergusson Drive).

The purpose of the meeting are to hear the publics view on Lower and Upper Hutt policing.

Currently there are numerous rumours circulating around this project (see www.twitter.com/HuttNZ). This opportunity presents the public to attend and offer their views on how policing can be improved in the Hutt Valley by presenting their concerns via this public consultation. Wellington District Commander Pieri Munro or one of his representatives will be in attedance. If you cannot attend you can email  (awakairangi.project@police.govt.nz ) or write to them at Awakairangi Project, Policing Development Office, P.O. Box 693, Wellington.

More details are at: www.police.govt.nz/district/wellington