Don’t break the chain and wish your friends and family a safe Christmas

Counties Manukau Police have created their own ‘Christmas chain letter.’ The letter is in the form of a locally designed Christmas card and wishes you and your family a safe festive season.

Police want to deliver a safety message to the families of Counties Manukau and their relatives and friends to ensure that people know what services are available to them and how they can help.

Today over 800 Christmas cards were distributed to families in the Counties Manukau District. Alongside the Christmas cards were a further three Christmas cards, three pre-paid envelopes and a set of instructions. The instructions encouraged the recipient to send free of charge their extra Christmas cards to three of their family members and friends.

Counties Manukau Police District Commander John Tims says, “It is important to us that throughout this busy and sometimes stressful time that you all look after each other.

“By sending these Christmas cards it increases our capability of raising awareness and helps us to inform people about where they can go for help and support if they need it. It also provides an opportunity for people to pass on the message by sending the cards given. We’re hopeful that our safe Christmas message will travel around the District, Region and maybe even the Country.”

Displayed inside the cards is the message ‘Counties Manukau Police wish you and your family a safe festive season,’ this is translated into six different languages; Maori, Tongan, Samoan, Chinese, Punjabi and Hindi.

“Within our Police District we have over 165 different cultures and are constantly engaging with our community. It was important to us that the majority of people receiving these cards would be able to understand the message and keep the chain going.

“The artwork on the cards is superb. They were designed by local school children who entered a competition. Four creations were selected to represent the District and these feature on the cards,” explained Mr Tims.

The back of the card displays the following information;

If you need help, or feel like you might be struggling then call or visit your local Police Station, or contact the organisations listed below.
24 hr Police Emergency 111
24 hr Women's Refuge 0800 733 843
24 hr Victim Support 0800 842 846
24 hr Life Line – Auckland (09) 522 2999
24 hr Youth Line 0800 376 6333
24 hr Crisis Team (Mental Health) 0800 800 717
24 hr Shine (Family Violence) 0508 744 633
24 hr Counselling Services Centre (09) 277 9324
Family Violence. It’s Not OK (9am-11pm) 0800 456 450
South Auckland Family Violence Prevention Network (09) 278 9266

Or visit: www.areyouok.org.nz

Police are asking all recipients to tell them who they’ve sent their cards to. People are encouraged to either post on the Counties Manukau Police facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Counties.Manukau.Police or to tweet @manukaupolice #manukuapolicesafexmas
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