Waikato Times
September 15, 2000

Top cop spells out winning formula
by Quentin Reade


Waikato's top policeman says targeting youth and getting police to walk the beat helped his region achieve a record reduction in the crime rate.

Figures released yesterday show that in the year to June Waikato's reported crime rate dropped 12.1 per cent -- the biggest fall in the country.

Waikato Superintendent Clint Rickards said the district was using two strategies -- making police more visible and starting proactive programmes targeting crime and young criminals.

Yesterday Police Minister George Hawkins said the nation's police districts should learn from Waikato's crime-fighting tactics.

Mr Rickards said getting police out on the street was a key factor.

"Studies show that it is more effective than just having police in cars," he said.

The beat section of the Hamilton police force is now based in the centre of town, at the council building, and makes policing far more visible, Mr Rickards said.

In the suburbs and outlying towns police are also ditching their cars and walking the main streets.

Programmes targeting Maori and youth, two areas Mr Rickards described as "key risk", have also been developed.

He said the positive effects of these were starting to be felt and would continue over the next few years.

Community Patrols -- volunteers who walk the beat three days a week -- had also reduced crime.

Overall the results had been "bloody excellent -- but it's not time to sit back", Mr Rickards said.

Meanwhile criminologist Greg Newbold believes a recent increase in the number of homicides is likely to be a statistical glitch.

Crime figures show homicides were up by 10.6 per cent, to 104, in the year ending June 30.

Recorded violent crime was down by 0.5 per cent on the previous year, but homicides rose, and so did grievous assaults and serious assaults, by 8.9 per cent and 2.7 per cent respectively.

"I think what we've got this year is an aberration, particularly with homicides," Mr Newbold said.