Eastern District officers receive Royal Honours
"Eastern District officers receive Royal Honours for youth and prevention work "
Two Hawke’s Bay police
officers who have developed and implemented a range of long
running youth, victim and prevention initiatives are
recipients of the Member of New Zealand Order of Merit
(MNZM) in the New Year’s Royal Honours list announced
today.
Sergeant Su Robinson, currently a member of Hastings' Public Safety Team, and Senior Constable Sue Guy, currently a field intelligence officer in Hawke’s Bay, receive their awards for services to New Zealand Police and youth.
It’s a triple celebration for Eastern District as Mrs Sandra Ibbotson, the co-founder of Napier Community Patrol which works closely with Police, receives the Queen’s Service Medal for services to the community.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush said the awards are richly deserved and illustrate the drive, energy and enthusiasm that the recipients all have in making a positive, tangible difference to the lives of young people and the wider Hawke’s Bay community.
“One of the
most heart warming initiatives developed by Su and Sue is
Wahine Toa, a supportive holistic programme focused on
improving the wellbeing, education, safety and self esteem
of young abuse victims.
“This initiative
including regular camps has been running for 14 years and
has been picked up by Blue Light branches in other parts of
New Zealand and Australia.
A similar concept, Tame Toa,
has been developed for young male victims of sexual
violence.”
Commissioner Bush said the officers live
and breathe the New Zealand Police values of
professionalism, respect, integrity, commitment to Maori and
the Treaty, empathy and valuing diversity.
He also praised the Mrs Ibbotson’s service in coordinating Napier’s Community Patrol since 2006, growing the group to more than 270 volunteers to becoming the largest community patrol in New Zealand.
Sergeant Robinson and Senior Constable Guy say they’re stunned and humbled at the award.
“We saw an opportunity when working in Youth Aid to make a difference to young people’s lives, turning around minor offending and addressing more serious problems,” Sergeant Robinson said.
“It’s not
easy for young teens who have been victims of sexual or
other abuse.
They often feel alone and isolated by their
peers.
Taking away small groups of victims in a safe, supportive and non judgemental environment does a huge amount for their confidence and self esteem.
“Nearly 160 teenagers have been through Wahine
Toa.
It’s a great thrill to see the programme picked
up elsewhere.
It’s an even greater thrill to be stopped when I’m out and about by some of our young women and to see that they are doing well.
“The boys too,
some of them gang members, know and respect us for getting
involved.”
Senior Constable Sue Guy said she’s
very proud to receive the MNZM, tinged only with sadness
that her mother isn’t alive to share her recognition.
She’s the third in her family to receive a Royal Honour
– her father has a QSM and her great grandfather was the
recipient of an MBE and OBE.
“It’s so rewarding
to work with young people and see them develop and take some
positives from really awful situations,” she said.
“It warms your soul to see young girls grow throughout
the Wahine Toa programme.
They’re with us all week,
and we introduce a range of speakers, counsellors and
activities which many have not had the chance to experience
or been previously receptive to trying.”
“Adolescence is a difficult time for many teens, more
so for those who have been bullied, abused, have anger
issues or low self esteem.
We don’t judge, we tackle
some difficult subjects, encourage and support.”
Referrals come from CYF, police family violence and
sexual abuse teams and local schools.
Business and
community support has also helped in supporting the
programmes.
Senior Constable Guy is also heavily
involved with a regular trail bike ride fundraising event
for Hastings Blue Light and with Sergeant Robinson developed
in 2004 the youth driver education programme.
She’s also actively involved with the Te Ao Marama Graffiti Art Programme and was a founding trustee of Te Ao Marama Roopu Trust, helping secure premises for an artistic ‘safe space’ for young people.
Mrs Sandra
Ibbotson says coordinating 270 Community Patrol volunteers
is like running a business.
She’s rapt by the award –
and by the dedication of her volunteers who range in age
from 20 to 87 years.
“We’re like a big family and
are all very proud to do what we can to help police and our
community.”
Rostering patrols, monitoring CCTV camera activity, office support work – anything to help prevent and deter offending, she says.
“My husband Brooke is so supportive to me and this award is as much about him as it is me.”
Mrs and Mr Ibbotson were both awarded a Commissioner’s Certificate of Appreciation by then Police Commissioner Howard Broad in 2010.