Community Patrols
of New Zealand
Community Patrols
of New Zealand
Onehunga Community Patrol
A bit about us…
Founded in 2012, we are a fun and active group currently with around 25 members (always looking for more) and we patrol the Onehunga, Royal Oak, Penrose, Te Papapa, Oranga and Hillsborough areas.
Most volunteers dedicate 3 hours a month (one patrol), but we are a flexible bunch, and some dedicate more time and some less time.
What we don’t do…
We are the ‘eyes and ears’ of the community and liaise closely with the Police, but we are neither law enforcement nor a security service. Safety is our number one priority. If we feel uncomfortable in a situation, we remove ourselves from it and call the police. We observe and report, we don’t get directly involved.
Our structure…
The patrol is made up of volunteers, approximately 25 currently. The Patrol is organised by a committee which is voted in each year. The committee is responsible for organising events, taking care of fundraising, training, setting our constitution and administration. We are fortunate to have a dedicated patrol vehicle (which you may have seen out and about). It is economical, safe and comfortable to patrol in, it includes a light bar, signwriting, first aid kit, traffic management kit, logbook, a patrol phone, dashcam, GPS monitoring, the list goes on! It even gets dressed up for our annual Christmas parade float!
The vehicle is stored securely at the Onehunga Police station along with our patrol equipment.
We like to be social and throughout the year have get togethers, think quiz nights, social drinks, theatre nights and our end of year function. The end of year function gives us a chance to get together before the Christmas break and celebrate the year that’s been. We generally have a meal, speeches and a prize giving. The prize giving acknowledges certain patrollers who have gone above and beyond, as well as handing out long service awards/badges.
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So, what does a ‘patrol’ look like…
Patrollers always work in teams, a minimum of two, but can be more. We provide shirts, hats, hi-vis vests and ID cards to make us stand out! Patrols start by ‘logging on’ with Police Communications before heading out and as we are patrolling, we use a smartphone application to record where we are and any incidents that we come across. At the end of the patrol, we ‘log off’, park the patrol vehicle and head home, knowing we have done our little bit to help make our community a safer place to live.
The application mentioned above, was created by one of our patrollers and is now used by multiple patrols around Auckland! It’s a simple way of pairing up with another patroller, who you would like to go out with, it automatically records your position and provides a way of updating everyone about what you come across during your patrol. It is very simple to use and of course we are there to help if you get into a bit of bother with it.
We like to team up new applicants with a more senior patrol member initially, questions are encouraged! You can choose to be a driver or an observer on your patrol.
Patrols can take many forms. If you and your teammate/s decide to do a ‘classic’ patrol you will most likely be hopping into the patrol vehicle and cruising around the local area. You can pick what route you want and change it up on each patrol. Our Police Liaison Officer usually provides an up to date ‘incident’ report (briefing) that is left in the car, and we tend to focus on those areas.
Perhaps you want to stretch your legs and get some fresh air… well how about a walking patrol. Still with a teammate/s, you will cover less ground but will get some exercise in and have more of a chance to interact with the public. Visiting local shops, cafes, stores, we are a friendly group and love interacting with the public. Fancy a coffee or something to eat, well take a break during your patrol and try some local cuisine.
There are also opportunities throughout the year to take part in one-off events. These are usually with a large group of patrollers, as they are very popular and usually require more co-ordination. Events include, Anzac Day Parades, Music on the Mall events, lighting of the Jellicoe Christmas lights, flyer drops, the Onehunga Festival, the Onehunga Christmas Parade, safer licence plate events, Coffee with a Cop, police communications visits and given our locale even visits to the Police Eagle Helicopter base.
A lot to take on? That’s okay, ideally you only need to do a patrol once a month, any extras are up to you.
So, what are the steps to becoming a patroller…
1. Email us on onehunga@cpnz.org.nz to let us know that you are interested and we will send you the application forms and Police vetting forms.
2. Fill out the forms and provide us with your ID documents and references (detailed in the application form and accompanying email from us).
3. We have an informal meeting and ask a few questions about yourself, as well as answer any that you might have of us.
4. We will send the completed forms off to the Police vetting agency.
5. You come along as an observer on a few patrols with us (to get an idea of what we do practically).
6. Once you have passed Police vetting, you will receive your ID card and gear which also gives you access to the online training modules that all new patrollers complete.
7. We welcome you to the team and you start patrolling with the Onehunga Community Patrol!
What do you get out of becoming a community patroller…
Well, besides a feeling of accomplishment, other patrollers have said that they enjoy the opportunity to make new friends with other like-minded locals, be the first to know about what is happening (or about to happen) in the community, qualify on NZQA certified First Aid courses, build confidence, help reduce crime, support local businesses and apply their patrol training into other aspects of their lives.
We are all volunteers and sometimes our circumstances change, you can leave the patrol at any point or put your membership on hold. Alternatively, get more involved and join the committee to vote on and influence the direction of the Onehunga Community Patrol.
If after reading this you are interested in joining us…
We look forward to hearing from you!
Kind Regards,
The Onehunga Community Patrol team.
Postal Address
Community Patrols of New Zealand
NZ Police National Headquarters
180 Molesworth St
Post Box 3017
Wellington
6140