A new high tech dash-cam unit for Paeroa Community Patrol’s vehicle is helping keep Paeroa streets safe.
The dash cam, which records high resolution footage both in front and behind the community patrol car, was funded by Paeroa Rotary and installed a few weeks ago.
CPNZ Paeroa Community Patrol Group chairman Martyn Jones said Rotary’s contribution for the high tech dash-cam unit was “brilliant”. Having the camera made a difference to securing convictions for local crime, he said.
“By driving around and some nights if there’s been nothing, then it’s a bloody great night – everyone’s in bed safe.
“But by being able to report things back to Police – in the Waikato area… they have a full time team that just puts pieces of the puzzle together from information coming in, and it’s amazing what information will lead to arrests.
“You don’t think you’re doing much but in essence, when you go and see what they piece together, you realise exactly what you’re doing – it just helps keep the community safe.”
The new dash-cam unit, which has cameras front and rear, provided Police with valuable information if required for evidence, so it needed to be high quality, he said.
“After researching various brands and models, talking with our Police Liaison Officer, and with some other Waikato and Auckland CPNZ Groups, we realised a cheap online purchase was not going to cut it regarding quality, performance, resolution.
“Especially night vision/recording capabilities to give NZ Police valuable intel if required for evidence, and more importantly for the safety of our patrollers who get approached in a none too friendly fashion from time to time.”
The camera gave another level of safety for volunteer patrollers, he said.
“We do have some people that have a go at the car in the middle of the night periodically, so that can be quite confronting if they’re drunk or stoned or whatever, but at least now we’ve got high quality footage of them that the Police can use.”
The Paeroa patrol, which was established in 2014, had just four trained patrollers in November last year, however, numbers had since boosted to 18, with another four currently being police-vetted.
Ideally, the patrol would need around 30 volunteers so the group could expand the patrol area to Ngatea and Turua, he said.
Having a community patrol was important for crime prevention, he said.
“The importance of the patrols in general, and why the police pushed so hard for it to continue, is that we’re the eyes and ears for the police.
“Generally the people of Paeroa and the businesses thank us for what we do. The only ones that moan are the ones that are doing something they shouldn’t be doing.”
The community patrol relied on support from local businesses and the community as it didn’t receive any government funding, he said.
“Just to run the one car at the moment, patrolling four nights a week, is costing us over $5000 a year, and in some cases, we put our own money in to put petrol in.
“As with most community volunteer groups, CPNZ Paeroa rely solely on funding and donations to cover operational and running costs,” he said.
Paeroa Rotary president Katie McLaren said she didn’t want to disclose the amount of funding given for the dash-cam, but it was part of $34,000 Rotary had donated to the Paeroa community in the past year. “[Community Patrol] provides such a valuable service to our community and assisting the Police within the community as well,” she said.
“The cops can’t be everywhere all the time so it’s a good service to have, and the volunteers that are involved are amazing. It’s important to keep them safe as well.”
DETAILS: Visit CPNZ Paeroa Give a Little page to donate: givealittle.co.nz/cause/paeroa-community-patrol-charitable-trust-help-us.
