Crime and Safety in your community – What do you think?

Meetings to be held by Manukau City Council over the next month will give residents the opportunity to have their say about safety issues and crime prevention in their community.

“Safety and crime are major issues for the people of Manukau,” says Mayor Sir Barry Curtis. “Council’s citizen survey results gave us strong indications of the community's concern. Through the city’s Tomorrow’s Manukau document, Council is working with other agencies such as Counties Manukau Police, Safer Manukau, A Safer Pacific Island Auckland Region and Child Youth and Family to create a safer city for all.

“Council’s contribution to this work includes a Community Safety Strategy of which the Crime Prevention Action Plan is a part. Through public consultation we will be able to determine each ward’s priorities for action in preventing crime. The feedback we receive will be used to develop the Crime Prevention Action Plan,” Sir Barry says.

“We’re hoping for a big turn out at these public meetings,” says Council’s Community Safety Planner Helena Maxwell. “Meetings will be held in every ward throughout April and May, as well as Maori Hui and Pacific Island Peoples fono. If you can’t attend the meetings a safety questionnaire will be available on the council website and at local libraries,” said Ms Maxwell.

“Crime statistics can’t tell us about people's level of fear around crime, or give us an accurate picture of the true levels of crime in the community as not all victims report offences. They can, however, show us the types of crime that are most common and identify hotspots where those crimes are most likely to occur.

“We wish to hear from people about the types of crime which are of most concern to them, with priorities for action, ideas to prevent or reduce crime and identification of Council services that could be beneficial in preventing and reducing crime.”

People interested in attending the meetings should register by phoning Frances O’Connor on 262 8946 or email foconnor@manukau.govt.nz. A copy of the safety questionnaire can be obtained from the website at http:// http://www.manukau.govt.nz or on request from Frances.

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