Waikato Times
September 15, 2000
Top cop spells out winning formula
by Quentin Reade
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
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.