Crimestoppers NZ

THE KAHUI TWINS

2011-07-01T08:43:00.004+12:00

The interesting debate about the Kahui twins provides once again the opportunity for New Zealanders to examine closely the sort of society we are all part of but do not want to accept as reality. I listened to the Children's Commissioner ,Rankin's comments on TV1 on Thursday night, 30 June, and although I wouldn't have expressed the view in the same way, what she said is true.

Middle class New Zealanders are very uncomfortable speaking about this subject and from my observations, men in particular. One gets onto the subject of domestic violence and child abuse and it interesting to watch the body language. With figures such as officially 120,000 interventions per year in the area of child abuse and domestic violence and estimates that this only represents 15% of what is actually going on, the size of the problem in New Zealand is a disgace. It could involve in excess of 800,000 interventions per year if full reporting occurred in a population of 4.4 million people. With this level of offending it is difficult to see how anyone would not be aware of possible instances of domestic violence and child abuse.

Hence I believe the discomfort people have in discussing the subject. By not discussing and dealing with this subject in a full and open manner it will never be addressed and another generation of domestic violence perpetrators and child abusers will emerge.

I will never forget the Maori co-leader, Peter Sharples, very early on attempting to get involved with the Kahui twin situation in an effort to get the family to open up and his frustration at trying to deal with what he discribed as a disfunctional family. This situation is not as uncommon as people would like to believe. Kids coming home from school not knowing which boyfriend/girlfriend will be there, whether there is food in the cupboard, no nurturing and love, no help with homework etc etc is not uncommon. Teachers deal with the disfunctional behaviour of kids from these environments every day. Some of these kids emerging from these environments are badly damaged. They feel totally unloved because no one has ever said to them that they were loved. They have no one to turn to except other kids in the same predictament.

The Police, Salvation Army and other agencies have to negotiate their way through these social disaster areas. They can't put their head in the sand like so many people do. They deal in the real world.

The first thing that can be done is bring this behaviour out into the open. It is not just a "brown problem" as some middle class folk think. The issue of domestic violence and child abuse knows no socio economic, racial or ethnic barriers. Crimestoppers can assist in bringing these behaviours to the surface, assisting the Police and other agencies. It just can't be left to the Police and other Agencies. We are all part of the community. New Zealand can deal with this challenge together.

This is a New Zealand Community problem which the whole community needs to be involved in to successully solve it.

ALCOHOL AND DRUGS

2011-06-20T21:21:00.005+12:00

Whether we like it or not alcohol and drugs are behind most of the crime in NZ today. Some estimates are that 80% of crime can be put down to alcohol and other drugs. When I recently had a conversation with a Police community constable he stated that if alcohol was taken out of society much of the crime he deals with would disappear - domestic violence, violence in general, traffic accidents, stupid acts and so on. Today I listened to a lecture given to a bunch of young people on a Limited Volunteer Scheme at Trentham Camp. It was delivered by a person from Well Trust and I must say it was very informative and highlighted the destructive nature of drugs especially alcohol and cannabis. Yes, "P", heroin, cocaine, tobacco etc are bad, but the ready availability of alcohol and the supposed harmlessness of cannabis makes them more dangerous and destructive.

The presenter introduced these young people to how alcohol affects the brain and alters the behaviour in people. He emphasised the incredible danger that alcohol has on the unborn child as a woman goes through her pregancy. His cost estimates on the damage that alcohol causes was $6 billion dollars per year. I know that from my time in the Army, 37 years, many in command appointments, alcohol was the cause of 90% of the incidents that threatened the Army's reputation. When the operation area was "dry" very few disciplinary incidents occurred. So from a health, economic and management perspective perhaps those, who are advocating for an increase in the age that alcohol can be accessed, should be listened to more closely. I supported the lowering of the age when it occurred but now believe the information available means that this decision to lower the age should be reconsidered with the view to tightening access to alcohol. I do think we should be asking ourselves the question; Are we so inadequate as individuals and a society that we need alcohol to enjoy ourselves?

The presenter then got onto cannabis and the very destructive nature of this drug on people under 25, that is, before the brain is fully developed. Regular long term use, that is, over 5 years, means that the brain is unable to recover from the damage cannabis causes. The fact that it stays in the system for upto 5 to 6 weeks and is absorbed into fat cells in the brains, provides a greater opportunity for more damage. Nearly 90% of those in prison have a drug problem of some discription. Predominately this is cannabis, a drug that many inmates have been using for years.

The presentation was not aimed at scaring the young people but to inform them of the dangers so that they could make informed decisions about their futures. These young people, all of whom were unemployed prior to attending the course, were only in their second week of the course. I was impressed by their participation in the presentation in regards their questions and how they answered questions. I think the presentation by the Well Trust person should be absolutely compulsory in all schools. I think if young people were fully aware of the dangers of alcohol and cannabis, especially if used together, one may see some modification of behaviour. The recent, high publicity deaths of school pupils, certainly indicates this type of presentation is important.

Teachers and parents are not the best people to provide the message - an independent person will invariably be able to get the message across better because they are not the regular person warning them of dangers etc.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

2011-06-12T22:56:00.005+12:00

Today it was reported that Larissa Brown who had complained about domestic violence that she had experienced by her ex partner, J williams, was being bullied on the social networking site "Facebook". When will people get it - there is no excuse for any kind of domestic abuse and being a so called celebrity does not give you any licence to indulge in this behaviour. It is accepted the person in this case, J Williams, has acknowledged his behaviour and how wrong it is and this is a big step in overcoming a problem. I admire him for having the guts to do this. Now of course he has to overcome the problem - clearly he appears to be someone who will and that is encouraging and an example to others.

It has been interesting to see some people have left the Crimestoppers Facebook site when I have raised this issue. Clearly it supports my view that many in society don't want to comfront an issue that is limiting the lives of many individuals - partners and children. What right does anyone have to have this impact on others. They have none. If nothing is done to combat the problem a new generation of abusers will be produced. Sticking one's head in the sand will not make the behaviour go away. Education, tolerance, less alcohol and eliminating illegal drug use, and being held accountable for your actions will eventuately reduce and eliminate the problem.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE

2011-05-11T20:20:00.004+12:00

The article below is one that I have written for a newspaper column and one that I think I need to put on my blog as the column is in a small local newspaper.

A week ago I would have written about scamming and New Zealanders failure and/or resistance to listening to advice on scamming. $448 million scammed per year. It’s hard to believe.

However, the non-accidental death of the six month old Serenity in Ngaruawahia, a small township just north of Hamilton, changed all that.

This article is aimed at highlighting the appalling statistics of domestic violence and child abuse in NZ. On a per capita basis we are at the worst end of the scale. Today I have read that there are 120,000 plus reports of domestic violence situations each year. This is up from 50,000 plus in 2005. Clearly some of this increase is from better reporting of domestic violence each year, which is great, but some is from increased violence in our communities.

There are also over 100,000 interventions by Government agencies in domestic violent situations each year. This is 300 per day. Even though many of these interventions concern the same family groupings it is still a disgraceful statistic in a civilised society. The Police deal with 5,000 to 6,000 child abuse situations each year, ranging from very young children like little Serenity, to teenage children. Recently I heard about a 15 year old belted by his father. The young lad thought he had deserved it because he had “pissed off” his father. He was assured by school staff that no parent had this right. The young lad’s reaction shows how this behaviour becomes inter-generational.

Crimestoppers provides a great vehicle to bring this domestic violence and child abuse to the surface. Family and neighbours know what is going on and need to take effective action. It is about looking after another human being. We feel compelled to do it as a nation by sending the military offshore to protect the vulnerable. If you know it is going on and do nothing and someone is killed you can’t say that it wasn’t your responsibility. Children look to adults for love and guidance and they trust adults, particularly family. What we see in these situations is that the child’s trust is totally misplaced as they are injured and sometimes killed by those who are meant to love and cherish them.

My plea to the community is to have absolutely nil tolerance to this behaviour. Do something about it when you know about it. You are not a “nark”. What a stupid, immature word. A moron painted this on the fence of someone trying to do something positive about Serenity’s death. I would suggest that some young victims would be still alive if someone had spoken up.

As a community let us do something about this abuse – ring the Police or if this is too difficult for whatever reason, then provide the information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 and we will get the message to the Police. Don’t be intimidated by anyone. Do what is right.

DRUG LAW RECOMMENDATION

2011-05-03T21:11:00.015+12:00

Today it has been interesting to listen to and read the various commentaries about the so called "softening the approach to drugs" being recommended by the Law Commission to the Select Committee. Tonight I heard the Deputy Law Commissioner attempting to explain the recommendation to Larry Williams, the well known ZB radio host. He certainly did not manage to convince him of the new approach, nor that it was not about softening the approach to drugs. I was driving and was very tempted to phone in to provide my input. I could identify where Williams was coming from but had had the advantage of having just attended a presentation at the US Embassy. I have not read the Law Commission's report so I do not know whether it accurately reflects what I heard at the presentation.

I had attended a presentation made by Judge (Retired) Peggy Hora, who has been intimately involved with the development of drug courts in the US. I can assure you, she certainly did not come across as a "softy" or easy on crime. She came across as a pragmatic person who wanted the justice system, in regards dealing with drug crime, to be more successful than it has been. As she pointed out, sending a small time user (not dealer) of drugs to jail did not change anything. They did their time and were out reoffending almost straight away. Reason: the crude intervention taken, putting the person in jail, did not deal with the problem.

The idea of drug courts in the US and elsewhere is to remove the conflict from the court room, defence against prosecutor, and look for a solution which has a change of stopping the person reoffending. In other words an intervention that works. So all those involved in the court system, the Judge, lawyers, police, parole officer, and agencies dealing with addictions attempt to find a solution which meets that required by the Justice system and lessens the chance of reoffending. The situations that this process relates to are small time users who have an addiction problem. This makes up many of the cases that come before the courts. It does not apply to dealers who are making money out of drug crime - they get, as one would expect, the full weight of the law. Dealing in my view is any selling of drugs, no matter how big/small.

Jailing a person with an addiction problem does not appear to achieve anything in regards stopping reoffending. The addiction needs to be dealt with. In simple terms, the accused is asked whether they wish to go through this drug court process. If they elect not to, then they go through the normal criminal justice system and take their chances. Once they elect to go through the system their addiction is assessed and an appropriate program is put in place to help them overcome the addition. Their progress is monitored closely by all the court officials including the Judge. This includes regular screening for drug use. There are ten critical aspects that must occur in the process for success and no compromise can be made.

The Judge pointed out that for an addict this is a tough process. For many to be successful they have to change their whole life including, in many cases, disassociating themselves from their former friends and associates because this would put them back in the environment of drug taking.

The results achieved are very encouraging with the reoffending rate being halved as a result of this process and millions of dollars have been saved. In addition the individual is rehabilitated back into society to become a person who contributes to that society. This has to be a better solution than people going in and out of jail, with nothing being done about their addiction.

One point that the Judge made was that the majority of crime is cause by addition to both legal and illegal substances. She did not the damage that alcohol causes.

If what the Law Commission has recommended is aligned to what I understand the Judge was saying and the Police believe it is workable, afterall they have to deal with street level drug activity, then there is merit in looking at the proposal.

SCAMMING - A REAL AND VERY SAD ISSUE

2011-04-26T14:10:00.005+12:00

A few years ago most people would never of heard of scamming. However, as more and more of the population have gained access to internet, more business transactions are conducted online as greater efficency is sought. There is no doubt that this development of internet facilities to conduct business has removed barriers to simple business transactions. Even in trying to find "love" and "friendship" people have turned to the internet.

However, this growth in internet business transactions has increasingly exposed the user of the facilities to a greater threat of theft of identity, funds and goods, often described in terms of scamming. Some may think that only vulnerable or those who are not well endowed intellectually fall prey to these scammers. That is not the case, and we even saw a week ago that the much maligned Hotchin, a Director of Hanover, was successfully scammed by some locals, that is, New Zealanders. He was apparently taken in by the promise of some very high returns on his funds.

In the last 12 months, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has estimated that over $448 million was scammed from New Zealanders in the last 12 months. When I speak with Community Groups they are incredulous of this amount being scammed from New Zealanders. They ask, "what were these people thinking about". New Zealanders are often characterised as being a trusting group who can be a "soft touch" for tragic/sad stories. These are great characteristics to have but can make New Zealanders extra vulnerable to the scammers, both external and internal.

I have been informed of people being scammed as a result of internet friendships promising love some time down the track. People looking and convinced they have found a soul mate. These have ranged to as much as $750,000 in 6 weeks - and not always to the Nigerian scammers. Some of these scammers are in well developed European countries. These scammers once they have the person on the hook know exactly what buttons to push to keep the victim in play.

So don't be under any illusion that scammers only come from places like Nigeria. I have personally dealt with a number of people who have been scammed from overseas scammers and individuals residing overseas by New Zealand scammers. Only last weekend, I had someone get in touch about an apartment they thought they had rented in the UK. Once they had sent the money they knew that they had been scammed and were asking me how they could stop the payment. Unfortunately the money had been collected.

At a recent network meeting of a group who deal with fraud and whose organisations had put an incredible effort into warning people about scamming, most commented "what more can we do to protect people from themselves". One organisation even admitted a Branch Manager had been scammed.

The best way to protect yourself don't send money to anyone unless you know who they are or can verify their credientals. If you have any doubts, don't send the money. The adage "if it looks to good, it is" should be heeded.

If you are using Ebay or Trade Me, when purchasing an item of some substance, put your money in the Trust arrangement that is available and only have it released when you are happy with the item purchased. The few dollars involved could save you much anguish. I am amazed that individuals purchase items for thousands and don't use this safe guard.

PROTECTING THE VULNERABLE

2011-04-13T10:22:00.003+12:00

A new law is about to come into force which will in essence hold people accountable for not taking action when they are well aware of vulnerable people being abused. Anyone who is aware of the terrible domestic violence and child abuse figures in New Zealand will acknowledge that something more has to be done to protect the most vulnerable in our society. I think the time for talking is well passed and now some concrete action needs to occur.

The Law Commission has recommended what is being introduced by the Government. The following web page provides details www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4879519/Bill-may-extend-reporting-of-abuse-to-neighbours Also in this article issues have been raised by two groups about the implications of this law. Although their concerns are acknowledged it would be nice if some confidence was given to those who have to apply the law. We cannot continue to do nothing as the number of interventions per year for domestic violence and child abuse of nearly 100,000 is totally unacceptable in any society.

Crimestoppers provides a very easy way to raise concerns about domestic violence/child abuse without the person providing the information being seen as a "nosey parker". Some children would be still alive today if there had been a "nosey parker" to save them. The Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111 is a 24/7 line or the online encrypted message form of the website www.crimestoppers-nz.org can be used.

DOING SOMETHING ABOUT CRIME

2011-04-04T20:14:00.005+12:00

Crimestoppers provides every individual in New zealand the opportunity to do something about crime that is happening in their community. In a world where most people feel disempowered, Crimestoppers empowers individuals. In every survey conducted over recent years crime has been, and is identified, as one of the three major concerns for New Zealanders. It does not matter that most of those responding have not been directly effected by crime - they know of others that have been and the consequences suffered, whether it be violence, dishonesty, harassment or vandalism.

In a recent documentary I watched on CNN, a black poet, writer and film maker, M. K. Asante Jr was interviewed and a quote he made has stuck with me. The quote, "If you make an observation, you have an obligation" contains a very powerful message about doing something about things that you observe - if it is good, then one should attempt to emulate or reinforce it so as to make the situation better, or if it is bad, then do something to change things so that things improve. The philosphy of Crimestoppers aligns with this message well. If you observe crime and criminal activity then do something about it, don't just talk about it. If you see actions that work against crime then assist in reinforcing these actions whether it is directly supporting the Police by being involved with community patrols, neighbourhood support or providing information via Crimestoppers.

Assante during this interview then quoted the great black singer/actor/activist, Paul Robeson, who commented "don't just show the world how it is, but how it could be". This is once again a very powerful message of motivation to improve the world for our children and our grand children. We can be a passive watcher or a doer.

All these things are possible if we are committed to making our communities safer. The mechanisms are in place. Information about crime can be safely provided to Crimestoppers via the 0800 555 111 number or the encrypted online message form on www.crimestoppers-nz.org

BULLYING IN SCHOOLS

2011-03-30T09:32:00.007+13:00

It has been very interesting reading articles and listening to discussions on TV and radio about bullying and the solutions. Schools need to be part of the solution to bullying. However, the source of bullying is mostly found in the environment the bully lives in. If kids see violence at home on a regular basis it is accepted as normal behaviour, hear conversations which display intolerance towards people who are different then this is seen as being acceptable and generally live in an environment devoid of values, it is hardly surprising the individual develops into a bully. There is no doubt poor parenting is the source of much criminal and anti social behaviour.

However schools do have a critically important part to play in demonstrating to students the importance of values in driving the behaviour one expects from them. School values should underpin the behavioural standards of both students and teachers. Students observe everything and quickly latch onto examples where teachers don't display the values espoused by the school and use this as an excuse for their own behaviour. For example if schools have a strong uniform policy but teachers come to school inappropriately attired then don't be surprised the students copy that behaviour. The expectation on leaders and their behaviour by those they lead is much higher than those lead, practise themselves. Good leadership is challenging.

Students are at school 6 hours a day so the chance to influence for good or for worst is there. I know teachers want to teach and feel passionate about this, but you can't successfully teach in a less than adequate environment and students make up a large part of that environment. Disruptive students deprive others of an education as well as themselves.

The environment the school creates is critically important in changing behaviour of students. Processes only go so far. Knowing that you can report instances of bullying, to whom and so on is important but you must create an environment where kids feel comfortable in doing so. Teachers must be approachable on a personal level, there must be easy access to them, there must be total trust and most of all the student must be convinced that something is going to be done about it. Students are just like adults, they will seek particular people they trust to talk things over with. Having a designated Point of Contact for bullying looks good on paper and as part of the process but actually doesn't work in reality. Realty tells us that all teachers/managers/leaders are not equally approachable. Personality and being able to empathise are critical attributes and students observe these attributes in some and not in others.

Many schools strive to create the right environment and no one is saying it is an easy task. As stated earlier many of these students come from appalling backgrounds which is sad and soul destroying. I am passionate about reducing the instances of this destructive bullying behaviour because I have seen what it does. The stupid adage "boys will be boys" or "girls will be girls" is a totally unacceptable approach. If a child feels they are being bullied then that is what they feel, and one needs to respond in an appropriate manner.

Crimestoppers can assist in overcoming the bullying problem by being the vehicle by which the problem can be bought to the surface. Crimestoppers was established in NZ to provide communication channels (telephone and email) through which citizens can provide information about incidents of criminal, anti social/unacceptable behaviour, confident that their identity will remain anonymous. It seems inconceiveable to me that the many bullying incidents have not been seen or even filmed. Anyone with relevant information can have this information sent to the police by simply calling 0800 555 111 or by using the encrypted online message form on the Crimestoppers website www.crimestoppers-nz.org

By working together, I am confident we can make New Zealand a safer place to live, work and do business.

MORE FRAUD ATTEMPTS

2011-03-06T20:44:00.002+13:00

The Christchurch earthquake has bought both the best out of people and unfortunately the worst. To date the best has clearly surpassed the worst and tonight's Sunday's program on TV1 which included a segment on a reporter whose house was badly damaged reinforced this message. The reporter commented on how generous the friends from down the street had been in opening their house up to them. And how at this time it was so important to be with others sharing what they had been through. It would have been awful to be alone. It was a great story put together well by TV1.

However, unfortunately the worst in human nature has come out as people have attempted to loot and scam people at a time when everyone's life has been turned on its head. These criminals have no conscious, no empathy and display behaviour that most humans find very hard to comprehend. These are the same types who cheat on social welfare, ACC and will no doubt target the Red Cross as that organisation tries to help the worst affected vistims of the earthquake. It is very important that if anyone has any information on this behaviour, do not ignore it. It robs the most deserving of our support. You can provide that information to the police or if you don't want to be identified provide the information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers will get that information quickly to the Police.

It is heartening that individuals are increasingly using Crimestoppers to provide information about criminals and criminal behaviour. When I speak to community groups they are very supportive and understand that many in the community are intimidated against giving information about criminals and the criminal behaviour they indulge in. Anonymity offered by Crimestoppers empowers the individual to do something about crime.

MORE BENEFIT FRAUD

2011-02-14T08:28:00.005+13:00

Over the weekend just passed (12/13 Feb) we learnt of a person who fraudulently claimed $28,000 from Work and Income and travelled the world seeing all the great tourist spots that all New Zealanders would love to visit, but many never will because they will never be able to afford it. He did it for two years and openly talks about it. He is dining out on it. Think about it. In that time this selfish person had his hand in every tax paying New Zealanders pocket, as he drew the unemployment benefit. He didn't care about anyone else other than himself.

Benefit fraud is a crime. This individual stole from all New Zealand tax payers. We have to stop seeing this behaviour as not being a crime or a "victimless crime". Government isn't no one. It is all New Zealanders. The Government spends money collected from us. Claiming fraudulently from MSD or ACC costs us all millions of dollars every year. Are you going to sit on your hands and accept this behaviour from a supposedly fellow citizen?

I ask New Zealanders if you know individuals who are ripping the tax payer off by claiming benefits they are not entitled to then provide that information directly to the Government Departments or if for some reason you are uncomfortable doing this then provide the information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or on the encrypted online message form which can be found on the website http://www.crimestoppers-nz.org/

ACC FRAUD

2011-01-20T21:06:00.003+13:00

I have always found it interesting that some in our society don't see it as fraud/theft if one does it against a Government Department or Agency or a large successful organisation. An individual wrote to me today and noted that many did not see individuals cheating on ACC as a criminal activity and therefore ignored the crime occurring in front of them.

In this blog I want to ensure that readers understand that a person cheating on ACC by making false claims has their hand firmly in your pocket, with the same impact that a pick pocket has when they successfully pick your pocket of valuables. The more people who successfully defraud ACC the more increases in levies must occur to make up for the shortfall in the fund used to support victims of accidents. There is no magic wand to make the shortfall in funds. We all must pay our share.

It makes no sense to me that individuals who know other individuals are working the system and understand the impact on levies, tolerate this very "jack" attitude that some have in regards cheating the system.

The ACC is a national no fault personal insurance scheme which benefits those unfortunate people who have accidents without them having to go through the legal process of suing individuals or organisations who may/may not have been responsible for the accident, a process that can often take years to complete.

If you have information about individuals who are "working" the system, provide that information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or use the encrypted online message form. Don't standby while individuals rip off a system designed to help everyone who has an accident and requires medical treatment to restore to health.

YOUNG OFFENDERS

2010-12-15T16:20:00.003+13:00

Over the last week we have seen a number of incidents that have involved a numerous young offenders ranging from age 13 through to 18. Today tragically it would appear that a 13 year old, at the wheel of a car, has ploughed into a house and been killed. His passengers ran off. Earlier today, in Hamilton a young driver, who had been apprehended a little more than 24 hours earlier with two mates driving stolen cars in what was described as a demolition derby, was once again involved with driving a stolen vehicle and having an accident. This time a 13 year old passenger was injured. On Monday it was reported the Police had stopped another 14 year old driving a car while intoxicated, and in Timaru the Police were pelted with missiles by a number of youth after a party had got out of control. Six youth, aged between 15 and 18, once again heavily intoxicated, were arrested by the Police. The Police commented they could of arrested a number more.

In most of these incidents young people had got hold of alcohol and become intoxicated or they were stealing cars and crashing them for fun. One must wonder in all these incidents involving young youth, most of whom are just out of Primary/Intermnediate school, where are the parents. What is their role in this appalling behaviour. It is accepted that occasionally children go off the rails even with good parents but by being good parents the odds of this occurring are greatly reduced. By good, I mean parents/carers who set a good example, have some values, know what their children are doing and spending time with them. If these actions are neglected one increases the odds that children will get into trouble. The community needs to work together to ensure that youth are gainfully occupied acknowledging that young people will occasionally lose the "plot".

WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN LIFE

2010-10-28T10:24:00.006+13:00

Yesterday, outside a court in Christchurch we saw the tragic effect that can occur when individuals don't think about the possible consequences of their actions on others in the community. It is hard when reading about the lost of Nayan Woods and its affect on his obviously distraught and loving parents not to be moved by their generosity and love towards the young Ashley Austin who had caused the tragic incident. They understood that this young man will live with the tragedy for the rest of his life. If he is smart, thoughtful and as loving as the Woods he will turn this tradegy into a positive influence in his life and all those he comes in contact with. The remorse he has shown indicates that this particular young man is smart and loving enough to do this and he has a supportive family. Nayan's death may have a positive impact on many and this would be a legacy which will help the Woods family live with their loss and Ashley live with his conscious.

This tragic accident brings home to anyone who is a thoughtful, intelligent human being, that "things/items/toys" are not that important in the big scheme of life. Individuals, families, communities and the experiences with each other are the most important things in life.

Crime and thoughtless behaviour negatively impinges on all these aspects of life and the happiness and safety of whole communities are effected. On the weekend we saw it again when a hunter accidently shot an innocent victim. More sorrow, for no doubt both families.

We need communities to come together and restore the characteristic of "caring about one's neighbour". Not just when tragedies occur but all the time. It is not being a "nark" when providing information about drugs, domestic violence, child abuse, theft, wanted persons and other crime; it's actually about caring about one another, the community. If one personalises crime one quickly realises that you want people to care about the victim, and do something.

Clearly first and foremost if you have information about crime the best place to call is the Police. However, if this does present a problem, and it sometimes does, then provide the information you have to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. No one will know who provided that information and in the most extreme case it could save a life.

IDENTITY FRAUD AWARENESS WEEK

2010-10-12T10:36:00.004+13:00

Currently we are in the Identity Fraud Awareness Week which is about increasing people's awareness regarding Identity Fraud which is on the increase and has the potential to affect many New Zealanders. Some figures indicate that New Zealanders are careless with information about their identity with an estimated 78% disposing of information with identity information in an inappropriate way. We have seen programmes on TV highlighting the insecurity of information on the social network facities such as Facebook and the trusting manner in which people reveal information about themselves. I do think that New Zealanders by nature are trusting and that is a characteristic developed over 200 years in a country that for most of that time was relatively isolated. This isolation does not exist today in the electronic world and we need to be more careful about protecting our personal identity, more questioning as to why organisations need the personal information they are asking for, and ensuring that when collected the information is protected in an appropriate manner.

Just recently I was amazed at the information that one organisation required and all I was doing was parking my car for an extended period. I said to my wife, I cannot understand what they require all that information for except of course to make it easier when you next booked the facility or of course provide benefits in the future for consistent use. I also wondered at how that information would be stored and who has access to it as the security measures in place to protect that information is critically important to the protection of personal identity.

We all need to be more conscious about protecting our personal identity.

ACCIDENT COMPENSATION CORPORATION

2010-09-03T14:46:00.002+12:00

ACC is a no fault accident insurance scheme which relies on its funding from all New Zealanders. it is a universal scheme and you never know when you may need to call on its support. For many it is comforting to know the system is there.

Unfortunately today there are some New Zealanders who abuse this scheme by fraudlently making claims. This is a cost to all of us and any shortfall in funds is made up by increasing charges. Those who are abusing the system cannot do this without others knowing about their activities. We need all law abiding and fair minded people to provide the information they know about those abusing ACC directly to the ACC or if this is too difficult because of a relationship to the person abusing the system or the possibility of violence then provide that information to Crimestoppers anonymously noting that it is about the abuse of ACC. This can be done by ringing 0800 555 111 or using the encrypted online message form found on the website www.crimestoppers-nz.org This information will go from Crimestoppers directly to the ACC and no one will know where the information has come from. I can assure you something will happen. Don't ignore this selfish crime. Don't feel sorry for the individual, they are stealing from you. Take action now.

ILLEGAL WEAPONS

2010-08-03T07:52:00.003+12:00

Over the last 12 months there has been an increasing use of weapons in criminal activities to a point where there has been a call to arm the New Zealand Police force. Most of these weapons are illegally held. The most recent incident which bought this subject to a head was the attack on two policeman in Christchurch which resulted in both the Policemen being wounded and a police dog killed. The Police were looking for a psychiatic patient and had not expected problems of the sort encountered. Whilst on that task their attention was drawn to a property where a smell of cannabis was present and they went to investigate. The weapons used in this attack were illegally held.

Over the first 10 months of Crimestoppers New Zealand operation a number of calls have been received about weapons being held illegally which is very encouraging. However, it is believed that there are still a number of illegally held weapons in the community and these have a high probability of being used in criminal activity and this increases the chances of people being badly wounded or killed. Anyone who knows about weapons being held illegally are strongly encouraged to provide that information to the Police. However, if this is too difficult because of your personal circumstances then you are urged to provide that information anonymously to Crimestoppers on the toll free number 0800 555 111 or by using the online encrypted message form on the website http://www.crimestoppers-nz.org/

DRINK DRIVING

2010-07-27T09:35:00.002+12:00

Over the last few days considerable debate has swirled around the issue of drink driving. What should the blood alcohol level be, remain as .08 or be reduced to .05? Should there be no drinking and driving for those under 20? Should punishments be increased for drink driving offences to ensure offenders feel the consequences of their offence? Will lowering the blood alcohol level have any effect on those that currently offend or are we just effecting the law abiding citizens? These are all very debateable questions. But I am certain that all New Zealanders would agree that 36,000 convictions for drink driving offences in the last 12 months is unacceptably high and poses a real threat to community safety. In over one third of fatal accidents on the road, alcohol is involved.

I recently received an email from a visitor to the Crimestoppers site very concerned about the consistent drink driving of a good friend and what to do about it. I commended the person for their concern but clearly one needs to do something about the situation before they injure or kill themselves and/or injure and kill someone else. Ignoring the situation should never be an option. That's head in the sand stuff. It may be tough but if your advice has been ignored, providing revelant details to the police, name of person, rego number of car, where they live, where they socialise etc or if you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with the same information. This is likely to see the person picked up for drink driving and receive the shock required to change their ways and/or get the medical help they clearly require. How would you feel if you did nothing and the person was killed or killed someone else. These are tough calls but often doing the right thing requires courage.

WANTED PERSONS

2010-07-06T20:10:00.003+12:00

Over the last few weeks we have been working with the Police to get exposure of those wanted persons who are trying to avoid fronting up for the crimes thay have committed. By using others to conceal their locations they are dragging them into their network of crime. Concealing a wanted person is a crime and those who do it can expect the law to be enforced.

I would like to appeal to those who are doing this to think about what they are doing. Those who are wanted are not wanted for "J" walking they are wanted for serious crimes. By concealing these criminals you are giving them more opportunities to commit more serious crime. My appeal to you is to get in contact with Crimestoppers and provide information about the whereabouts of the person being hidden. The number is now well known 0800 555 111 or use the encrypted online message form on the website, http://www.crimestoppers-nz.org/

I have also added to the website those wanted around the world by the International Agency, Interpol. Check into the Menu item on our website "Wanted Persons" and see the sort of people we are talking about. They need to be in prison for what they have done. It is important that you don't think these people would not be in NZ. They are escaping the law in their own countries and the distance New Zealand is away from their countries increases the possibility that they won't be recognised. If you have suspicions about someone's identity provide the information to Crimestoppers anonymously. These criminals will steal identities and recreate a life for themselves. Don't let them get away with it. Don't be intimidated. Don't put your head in the sand. Provide the information anonymously to Crimestoppers if it is too hard to go to the Police.

VIOLENT CRIME IN NEW ZEALAND

2010-06-30T10:26:00.003+12:00

Almost every day we are confronted by a story in the media by some appalling act of violence in New Zealand. A statistic released the other day revealed that over 100,000 child abuse cases were recorded in NZ in the last year. That is, over 300 per day. This can only be discribed as a disgrace.

Violent crime is the one type of crime that is on the increase in New Zealand. In one Police District, violent crime in the last 12 months had increased by over 30%. We can analyise the reasons for this increase and hopefully in time put programmes in place that will address the issues of anger, alcohol abuse, drug addiction, disfunctional families and the increase in exposure to violence in video games, on movies and television, which are often at the basis of this increase in violence.

However, although absolutely necessary, these programmes take time to get into place and to begin to have positive effects. At this moment in time we all need to take some action to lessen the prevalence of this violence. There has to be a zero tolerance to violent behaviour and we all must take on the responsibility to take some action when we see this behaviour or the results of this behaviour. It is no use ignoring it and the following day finding out that a child or partner has been killed when we could have taken preventive action.

We need to personalise these incidents and ask yourself "if you were a victim, would you like someone to help you".

The first contact should be to the Police especially in an emergency situation. However, if for some reason this is not possible get the information to Crimestoppers anonymously. No one will know who has provided the information. Don't live to regret your lack of action. Your immediate action could save a life. Potential violent offenders may think twice about taking an action if they knew there was a high likelihood of them facing the consequences of their actions.

You can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or submit an encrypted online message form found on Crimestoppers website http://www.crimestoppers-nz.org/

There is no place in society for the violence we are now seeing in New Zealand. We are supposed to be civilised and in the 21st century but are behaving in a way that belongs back in the dark ages.

DOMESTIC ABUSE

2010-06-22T19:26:00.005+12:00

Another adult person has been convicted of causing the death of a young, defenceless child. When will this blight finally stop in New Zealand. We, as a country, have one of the worst records per capita in the world and its about time we adopted a zero tolerance towards those who inflict this abuse on partners and defenceless children. Children, who innocently look to those very adults to nurture, love and protect them. Every time I look at my three year grand daughter I can't believe what people do to these young defenceless children.

It will only stop when individuals who know these dreadful things are occurring step up and do something about it. It is too late after a child or a partner is killed. Yes, it is difficult to step up and say something, particularly if you don't want to identify yourself or it is a family member who you are providing information about. That is why Crimestoppers has been established - to give individuals every opportunity to speak up about behaviours that are illegal, but more importantly, have the potential of leading to serious injury or death. This information can be provided anonymously and can save lives. The aim is to get the abused out of danger and to deal with the abuser legally and provide clearly needed pychological help.

To date, despite the dreadful record of domestic abuse in New Zealand the provision of this information to Crimestoppers is still low.

Come on New Zealanders let us do something about these behaviours. Don't ignore situations where partners and children are abused. Delaying providing this information could result in serious injury or death. Ring the Police in the first instance but if this is too difficult, call 0800 555 111 or use the online encrypted message form on the website http://www.crimestoppers-nz.org/

NEW PARTNERSHIPS

2010-06-18T08:47:00.003+12:00

In the last week Crimestoppers New Zealand is pleased to note we have teamed up with two new partners, the Department of Corrections and the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).

The relationship between Corrections and Crimestoppers is aimed at increasing the safety of Corrections staff, inmates and the wider community. The current system used is 0800JAILSAFE and this will be replaced by the Crimestoppers Number 0800 555 111, a number that New Zealanders are becoming increasingly aware of as a means of providing information about crime anonymously. Inmates know about past crimes, recent crimes and crimes planned for the future. They also know about crimes that specifically endanger Corrections staff and inmates. Many inmates may be willing to provide this information but there are many barriers to doing so. The Crimestoppers service provides the opportunity to provide the information anonymously and we know that this anonymity empowers individuals. The Corrections and Crimestoppers team are determined to, and confident of, achieving a positive outcome in regards making the environment safer for staff, inmates and the community.

The relationship between ACC and Crimestoppers is aimed at encouraging individuals who have information about those who are illegally claiming payments from ACC to provide that information anonymously to ACC via the Crimestoppers New Zealand contact points, that is, the toll free phone line 0800 555 111 or using the online message form on the website http://www.crimestoppers-nz.org/ These illegal claims mean that there is real pressure on the funds available and/or on the need to increase the funding base. In both cases, we all feel the effects.

If we want our community to be safer and to have an environment that is good for business and thus employment, then we all have to play our part. We will have a stronger, safer and healthier community if we all pull together as a team. It can be done - don't disempower yourself by saying "what can I do". We just need to all do our bit.

DISHONESTY CRIME IN NZ

2010-06-07T12:48:00.004+12:00

Recently I was researching a brief that I was to give to a Territorial Local Authority and was astounded by the very poor resolution rate for crimes of dishonesty. The rate was 28% for the region I was briefing on, which means there is less than a 1 in 3 chance of the thief being caught and held to account for what they have done. I recently heard of someone at a school where a very new and named jumper had been handed in to the lost property section. A student came and reported their jumper had been lost. He was asked if it was named. He thought for a minute and then said it was named but he had got it from the second hand shop and another student's name was in it. His theft and subsequent lie was revealed to him and he was sent on his way.

This level of dishonesty and the poor resolution rate for crimes of dishonesty is encouraged by the "head in the sand" approach taken by parents, friends and work colleagues when they ignore theft occurring around them. Some niavely say that these crimes are victimless. This is absolute rubbish, victims of burglaries will often say that, they feel they have been violated.

It is about time there was a nil level of tolerance to theft. By ignoring theft we are encouraging young thieves as they are not forced to face the consequences of their actions and are embolden to go on offending. In addition, much of the theft today feeds the offenders addictions such as illegal drugs, alcohol and gambling and the longer they get away with theft the worst their respective addictions become. I appeal to parents in particular to be more inquisitive about where their children have acquired their new "toy". It is better you take this approach rather than have a very unwelcome visit from the Police in the future.

If you have information about crime/criminal offending or criminals contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or use the online message form on the website http://www.crimestoppers-nz.org/ No one will ever know your identity. Your anonymity is guaranteed. You can do something about crime in your community without endangering yourself.

SEEKING INFORMATION

2010-05-19T10:38:00.002+12:00

As you are all aware Crimestoppers reason for existence is to get information about crime that does not normally find its way to the Police. We know there is a number of reasons why this occurs - possible fear of intimidation, the person is maybe on the fringe of the crime, someone may have a criminal record so doesn't expect their information to be taken seriously or that they will end up being investigated and so on. At Crimestoppers we don't judge your motivation for giving information. We just want that information to help solve crime, catch criminals and for many vistims bring some closure. Unsolved murders and disappearances fall into this category.

On our home page we have been featuring the ongoing search for Leo Lipp-Neighbours who, along with his car, has been missing since January 2010. You may have some information that could help this investigation, even a sighting of the car and its location, would be very helpful. Your bit of information married up with other bits of information could really help this investigation. Leo's parents are just wanting some sort of closure. As a parent I can understand the pain they are going through.

Today, the issue of abused children is once again in the news. The provision of information about this crime is an absolute must if New Zealand is going to get on top of this crime against our most vulnerable citizens. We have one of the worst records in the world in this area and the Minister of Social Welfare described the way we treat these very vulnerable citizens as worst than we would a dog. Families, friends and neighbours have the knowledge of this abuse and have a real obligation to provide that information - first and foremost to the Police but if this is too difficult, and it often is in these cases, provide the information to Crimestoppers anonymously. A delay in providing that information could cost a child their life and any caring human being would have it on their conscious for life if they had ignored the crime.

If you have information about crimes, unsolved crimes and disappearances take the opportunity to get it "off your chest" by providing the information anonymously to Crimestoppers by using the 0800 555 111 number or use the online message form on our website
www.crimestoppers-nz.org .

DRUGS STILL HEAD CALLS

2010-04-27T22:29:00.003+12:00

Crimestoppers has now been operating for 6 months and the number of calls continue to hold up well. Nearly 3,200 calls have been made to Crimestoppers with over 1300 being categorised as actionable, that is, there is enough information in quality and quantity for the Police to take some action. The calls have come from all over the country, 75% from the North Island of which 50% are from Auckland, and 25% from South Island with 80% coming from Christchurch. The Police continue to make arrests, recover drugs, stolen goods, illegal weapons, locate wanted persons and so on. 65% of the calls are about the manufacture, supply and distribution of drugs. This is not surprising given the destruction caused by drugs.

Today, 27 April, we hear that the Police have arrested 250 people as a result of a sophisticated Cannabis growing operation. Congratulations go to the Police. It is great to see this success and don't let anyone fool you about this drug being harmless. Also think about where the money is used which is generated by this drug. New Zealanders need to join the effort to stamp out drugs from our communities. We can do it if we all play our part. The Police are working hard at their end, but they can't do it themselves. If you have information about drugs or any other crime or have strong suspicions and are not willing to go to the Police give that information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or use the online message form on the website crimestoppers-nz.org The information will get to the Police and help them in their endeavours. As I have informed a number of people during presentations on Crimestoppers, the information coming from Crimestoppers will often help focus the Police attention - instead of looking for a needle in a haystack, it is down to a needle in a hay bale. Individuals are empowered to do something about crime because of Crimestoppers guarantee of anonymity.

WANTED PERSONS

2010-04-15T15:12:00.005+12:00

I ask everyone who reads the information on this blog site to go onto the Crimestoppers New Zealand Home Page and click on wanted persons. It is hard to believe that in our small community these wanted persons are not known. They are clearly identified in the photographs and people in the community where they live are asked to provide the information on their whereabouts to either the Police or if this is too difficult then provide the information to Crimestoppers anonymously. Crimestoppers guarantees your anonymity. The number to call is 0800 555 111 or use the encrypted online message form. If we want safer communities for our families we need to assist the Police in making this possible.

In the six months Crimestoppers have been operating 62 pieces of information has come in on wanted persons, 10 per month.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

2010-03-30T15:23:00.002+13:00

With figures released this week showing that domestic violence has increased 40 per cent over the last ten years, it is clear that considerable extra effort needs to be done to get more transparency on this crime and to provide extra support for those partners who want to get out from these destructive relationships. They are not only destructive to the partner but also are both psychologically and often physically destructive for the children caught up in the situation. The increased transparency on this crime is an area that Crimestoppers can directly contribute to. As I have commented before lack of action by neighbours, friends and relatives can mean that tragic situations eventuate. It is no use bemoaning the fact that you have done nothing to intercede in the situation after a tragedy has occurred. Be pre-emptive and take action before tragedy strikes. No one says its easy. These situations need courage. Let us do something for our most vulnerable citizens. BE PRE-EMPTIVE. If you know about violent domestic situations ring the police and prevent a possible tragedy. If you find this too difficult and want to stay anonymous, then ring Crimestoppers on 0800555111 or use the online message form on Crimestoppers website at crimestoppers-nz.org

STATISTIC FOR FIRST FIVE MONTHS

2010-03-19T08:39:00.002+13:00

Crimestoppers has now been operating in New Zealand for five months and New Zealanders are continuing to provide information on crime by using the crimeline 0800 555 111 (used by 80%) and the online message form (used by 20%). We have now received over 2,600 calls with over 1100 being categorised as actionable. The calls continue to be received from all over the country. In the last month 72% from the North Island, with just over 50% coming from the Auckland region and 28% from the South Island with about 80% coming from the Christchurch region. Most information received is about drug crimes, followed by theft in all its forms, traffic violations, wanted persons, illegal weapons, sexual offences, murder and assault. The trend established indicates that Crimestoppers is becoming embedded in our society as another way of dealing with crime in our communities. There have been a number of articles in the media about some positive outcomes resulting from information provided by Crimestoppers. The latest edition of the Police Ten One magazine has a number of stories about Crimestoppers and just last night (18 Mar) stuff.co.nz had a story about arrests in South Auckland flowing from information provided by Crimestoppers. However, crime, like rust, never sleeps, and we need to be continually on the look out for crime and criminals and be prepared to ring the Police or if this is not possible provide that information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use the online message form. We will get safer communities and a better business environment if we play our part in the reporting process. Ignoring crime will not make it go away - you will in fact encourage crime with that approach.

CALLS KEEP COMING AND THEY NEED TO

2010-02-27T10:36:00.005+13:00

After four months of operations calls continue to come into Crimestoppers which confirms that the service offered is wanted and needed. Nearly 2200 calls have been received with over 900 categorised as actionable, that is, there is enough information in quantity and quality for the Police to take some action. The dominant crime reported continues to be drugs. Not surprising given the misery that this crime brings to family, friends and employers. Keep that information coming because this crime is directly tied to a number of other crimes, crimes involving violence, both domestic and common assaults, burglaries to support the drug habit, property damage and possession of illegal weapons to name but a few. However, it is important that people with information about crime and criminals don't ignore what they see as lesser crimes. These invariably embolden young criminals to commit more serious crimes. One crime which is very prevalent in our society is domestic violence in all its forms. It is important that relatives and friends who know this is occurring do not ignore it. What are you going to feel like, if you find that one day, as a result of domestic violence you knew about, resulted in someone being killed? We are all responsible to ensure that we look out for the most vulnerable people in our society, especially children. Children should be able to trust adults to look after them and ensure their safety. There are numerous recent incidents where adults failed innocent children. If you have information about crime ring 0800 555 111 or use the online message form on this website. DON'T BE IN THE POSITION OF HAVING HAD IGNORED A CRIME WHICH IN THE END LEAD TO A DEATH PARTICULARLY OF A CHILD.

EVEN GREATER NEED TO GIVE INFORMATION ON CRIME

2010-02-22T08:33:00.003+13:00

Over the last three days we have heard about three serious assaults on NZ Police as they were fulfilling their duties to the citizens of New Zealand. One of the Police assaulted was actually not on duty but put himself at risk to try and defuse a situation. This type of selfless action we have come to expect from our Police. Unfortunately the violent behaviour of those involved in the incidents is becoming all too common. The incidents indicate a lack of values, as values underpin behaviour, and the growing culture of resorting to violence as a method of dealing with a situation. This tendency to violent behaviour whether it be to people or animals, needs to be dealt with as soon as it is identified within an individual. Ignoring violence will not make it go away. It needs to be dealt with before a tragic incident occurs. If you see violent behaviour take action, whether it be in a domestic situation, in the school yard or while socialising, call the Police or if not possible give the information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Don't ignore it. Next time the individual may kill someone and then how would you feel. The murders of the Taxi driver in Auckland, the young mum in Christchurch and now an elderly woman in Christchurch in her own home bring home to us the tragic result of violent behaviour.

UNSOLVED CRIMES

2010-02-08T21:11:00.003+13:00

There are a number of unsolved crimes in New Zealand, from not so serious crimes to serious crimes, like a number of murders, including one we have been featuring on our home page. It is most unlikely that these crimes have been committed and the only person who knows of them is the person who did the crime. People close to the person who commited the crime will have seen changes in behaviour, blood on clothes, a likely weapon, unexplained absences at the time of the crimes, property that has appeared that has not been purchased, extra unexplained money and so on. People close to the criminal don't want to believe ill of the person they live with, know, are related to, and so rationalise away the thought of them committing the crime. It is easy to do especially if it is a loved one who is suspected. Is it legal? is it justified? is it fair? is it fair to the victim's family, will you ever be at peace? These questions must be asked. If you have this type of information go to the Police in the first instance, but if this is too much give the information to Crimestoppers by phoning 0800 555 111 or by using the online encrypted message form. This will give you peace of mind and more importantly closure to the loved ones of the victim of the crime. Put yourself in their place and ask yourself; how would you feel?

STATISTICS FOR FIRST THREE MONTHS

2010-01-26T15:29:00.003+13:00

Two weeks ago I released to the media the call statistics for the first three months of Crimestoppers operations in New Zealand. The media gave this information plenty of coverage. The statistics are very encouraging and certainly vindicate the establishment of Crimestoppers in NZ. In three months over 1700 calls have been received with nearly 700 categorised as actionable (enough information in quality and quantity for Police to do something) The Police are now in the process of collating what has occurred but I can say that people have been arrested and charged as a result of information provided by Crimestoppers. We are very pleased with the response of New Zealanders. The opportunity for individuals to do something about crime without endangering themselves is a big motivator. Crimestoppers aim is to mobilise New Zealanders to take action against crime. We want to have criminals with nowhere to hide whether they be involved in the illegal drug trade, theft in all its forms, illegal sexual activities, domestic violence whether against partners or children, possessing weapons illegally or wanted by the Police. If you know about crime, take action. Either contact the police or give the information anonymously to crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or using the online message form on Crimestoppers Website crimestoppers-nz.org We can get safer communities if everyone plays their part.

WAR ON DRUGS

2010-01-07T21:46:00.004+13:00

A recent news article highlighted the recent successes of the Police as they fight to reduce illegal drug use in New Zealand. They have been given new powers by the Government to assist in this process. It is still vitally important that we all add our assistance to the issue - drug pushers are known to both criminals and law abiding citizens. We all need to provide that information to the Police or if this is too difficult we now have another facility - to ring CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800 555 111 and report the information anonymously or provide the information on the online message form found at crimestoppers-nz.org. Let us not kid ourselves about managing the use of drugs and it is about time that the term "recreational drugs" is removed from any discussions. Drugs are extremely destructive to the individual involved and cause dispair and heartbreak to parents, siblings and friends. They often feel helpless as a loved one destroys themself. Let us stop the RATBAGS that operate in this drug trade. Do something, make a difference - ring Crimestoppers and help put an end to those who peddle this misery. These people have no redeeming features - they try and hook young and vulnerable teenagers on drugs. YOU ARE NOW EMPOWERED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE PREDICTMENT - DO IT.

STATISTICS FOR FIRST TWO MONTHS

2009-12-22T20:31:00.004+13:00

The statistics for the first two months of operations are now available. In that period 1057 calls have been taken by the Crimestoppers Call Centre in the UK. 460 of these calls have been categorised as actionable, that is, they have enough information, in both quality and quantity, for the Police to do something with; and they have. The main crime reported is the manufacture, supply and distribution of drugs. Theft was the next highest crime, followed by information on wanted persons, sexual offences and possession of weapons. Over the period 75% of the calls were from the North Island, half of which come from the Auckland area and 25% from the South Island with over 60% from Christchurch. Calls on phones made up 80% of calls while 20% use the online message form.

In summary, after a burst of calls in the first 10 days, 380 calls received following the publicity of the launch, we have now settled into a steady state situation. The TelstraClear advertisements from 6 to 19 December, have seen an increase in calls upto the cut off date of 12 December. There is no doubt as Crimestoppers becomes more well known and people get to know the 0800 555 111 number calls will steadily increase. This has occurred in the UK over the last twenty years. In the first two months Crimestoppers New Zealand has operated in the way that was envisaged which confirms that New Zealanders were ready for the services offered - that is, providing individuals the opportunity to provide information about crime anonymously by ringing 0800 555 111 or using the online message form. Crimestoppers wishes you a happy and safe Christmas and New Year. We all contribute to this environment.

CHRISTMAS - NEW YEAR PERIOD

2009-12-14T08:39:00.002+13:00

We are now really into the festive season and it is about having fun and enjoying yourself. However, this is a very dangerous time if one does not keep their 'wits about them'. Abuse of alcohol enhances one's chances of getting into trouble with the law - wilful damage to property, theft of property, verbal and physical assault, sexual offences and consumption of illegal drugs to identify just a few of the offences. The police are working hard to bring the message home to people. No one wants to spoil the party and festive activities but anti social behaviour can have a huge impact on law abiding citizens. A report in the newspaper today highlights the dangers of drug use due to the ingredients which are now being included. The other point to make is the very misleading term, recreational drugs, used by the media. This implies that these drugs are harmless. Drugs are illegal for good reason - they are not harmless and have the potential to do physical and mental harm including killing you. Also during this period people need to take care of their property - families depart for holidays leaving many family treasures at home. Ensure your homes are secure and ask neighbours to keep an 'eye' on your home.
If you see illegal activities during this period don't ignore it, ring the Police. If you are uncomfortable doing this for whatever reason, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or use the online message form on the website crimestoppers-nz.org The Crimestoppers mantra is "we want to know the information you have, not who you are". WE CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT CRIME.

PROVIDER OF INFORMATION

2009-12-08T06:29:00.002+13:00

I have just received a very encouraging email from someone who had provided information on a drug supplier that has lead to police action. The person was expressing thanks for the introduction of Crimestoppers to New Zealand. The thing that empowered the person to give the information was the guarantee of anonymity. The person was too frightened to go to the Police. I would like to thank the person for the courage thay showed in taking this action and not just sitting on the information. I encourage all other citizens concerned about criminality they know about to provide that information to Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or on the online message form if going to the Police is too difficult.

I have not published the individual's email because it may have revealed who they are. But I thank that person for their courage and good citizenship. If we all take this approach we can do something about crime.

METHAMPHETAMINE - P

2009-12-06T18:34:00.002+13:00

My knowledge of this drug is that it is not confined to any particular group in our society. I make this comment in response to a comment sent in to me anonymously. The Crime Gangs behind its funding, manufacture, supply and distribution are generally not users, are far enough removed from the work face to be largely anonymous, can often appear to be law abiding citizens, are involved because of the money to be made (it's a billion dollar business in NZ) and have no conscience in regards the misery they cause. Unfortunately many users of this drug believe thay can manage it but most are very quickly trapped into the web of distruction and havoc that results from addiction. On a per capita basis NZ is the largest user of P in the world. The best way to tackle this problem is do not get involved at all, and if you know information about those involved do not delay in giving that information to the Police or if not possible because of fear then provide that information to Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or use the encrypted online message form. We can win this fight against P if we all do our bit - Crimestoppers empowers the individual to do something about this drug use. Anonymity is guaranteed.

METHAMPHETAMINE - P

2009-12-03T09:15:00.002+13:00

Yesterday I attended a presentation on Methamphetamine or P as it is commonly referred to in NZ. The effects that this drug has on users is shocking and there is absolutely no doubt the best way of avoiding these effects is to not use this drug. Many who experiment with this drug believe that they are able to manage their use. When one realises how this drug works on the brain it is quite clear that anyone believing they will manage their use is being totally unrealistic. Parents need to understand the signs of use of this drug so that they pick up early whether their children are using and get help immediately. It is much easier to recover from addiction the earlier it is picked up. The manufacture, supply and distribution of this drug is a billion dollar business. The Organised Crime bosses behind this trade are not users, they peddle misery and live the good life themselves. The Police now have the power to take this good life away. We need to put these people out of business. If you know any information regarding Crime, especially drug manufacture, supply and distribution ring in the first instance the Police but if you can't do this contact Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 or use the online message form on website crimestoppers-nz.org

STATISTICS FOR FIRST MONTH OF OPERATION

2009-11-24T08:34:00.002+13:00

The first month of Crimestoppers operation in New Zealand has passed. We, at Crimestoppers, are pleased with the results and the way New Zealanders have responded to Crimestoppers. The basic statistics are as follows:
631 calls taken with 243 assessed as being actionable.
The manufacture and supply of drugs was the most common crime reported on and to illustrate an example, there is a great story on the following link:
www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/eastern-courier/3070612/Hot-tip-leads-to-bust
Other crimes were theft(burglary and fraud) information on wanted personnel and sexual offences.
79% of calls came from the North Island, 21% from South Island, 50% of North Island from Auckland area, 50% of South Island from Christchurch and nearly 20% used the online message form
So well done New Zealand but keep calling the 0800 555 111 or using the online message form to give information about crime anonymously. This keeps the pressure on those committing crime. Remember Crimestoppers Mantra "We want to know information about crime not who you are". We can make our communities safer and create a better environment for business by all playing our part. It's a team effort.

COMMENT ON EMAIL RECEIVED CRITICAL OF POLICE

2009-11-23T15:30:00.003+13:00

I had a email commenting on my email about working together to make our communities safer. It stated that it was good to see people looking after people and then adding some information about an alleged home invasion in South Auckland which occurred recently and that despite plenty of witnesses no arrests were made. The person was critical of the Police in Manukau. I would like to state that I have been with the police in Manukau and I can assure you they work very hard in some very challenging situations. Arrests are not made immediately because often the police need to determine the facts of the situation. If there is enough facts, action will be taken. We must all keep supporting the police because they need that support. They cannot do it all by themselves. If we all chip in by providing information about crime we will eventually drive criminality out of our communities. Always ring the police in the first instance but as I have stated often if that is not possible then RING CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111 or use the online message form. We must be relentless in our effort to get rid of crime.

BMX FACILITY - PAPAKURA

2009-11-18T12:21:00.002+13:00

As I read the article on Stuff today where a BMX facility in Papakura was to be abandoned because of the criminal behaviour of boys aged 8 to 11 made me think about where society is at. There is no way the Papakura Community should allow this facility to be abandoned because of this totally unacceptable behaviour by children. The community working closely with the police have the capability to stop this anti social behaviour. Law abiding citizens do not have to put up with this behaviour. The small minority should not be allowed to dictate to the large majority. Facilities that enable young people to participate in physical activity is of real benefit to the young people themselves and to the community itself. The offending children and their parents need to be held to account. Crimestoppers is about mobilising the community against criminal behaviour at all levels. Young criminals often grow up to be full time criminals unless an intervention takes place. Ignoring the problem will not make it go away. It will just get bigger. If you know about crime, don't be intimidated, ring the Police in the first instance but if this is not possible ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or send a online encrypted message found on our website crimestoppers-nz.org

ORGANISED CRIME AND DRUGS IN SCHOOL

2009-11-16T10:32:00.002+13:00

I have written on both organised crime, the use of school children to courier drugs and drugs in school. It has been interesting to read the information the Police have released and the reactions of a couple of Schools. Obviously there has been a communication problem. I think we all need to take on board there is a growing drug problem in schools and no school is immune. Any school that thinks it is, is in denial. Organised gangs use youngsters to do their dirty work because that is the way they operate. The risks appear low to the youngsters involved because that is what they have been told and there is a 'big pay off'. Parents need to be aware of who their children mix with, the ready access to funds with no source being apparent or appearance of expensive equipment/clothing with no apparent source of funds to purchase them. Parents can often go into denial because of the seriousness of what their child could be up to or because their belief their child would not do something wrong, or worst it would have a poor reflection on them. Bad news does not get better with age. An early intervention could save considerable grief down stream for your child and yourself. Schools also need to be aware of unusual amounts of money carried by students. We are all in this situation together and if we are to reduce the impact of drugs on our society then it is a team effort.

DRUGS IN SCHOOLS

2009-11-12T12:54:00.002+13:00

Today on the Stuff Internet site we learn of drugs being found in schools on children as young as 12. We also find out that there has been an increase in the incidences of drugs found in schools and the increase by schools of drug dogs to locate these drugs. These drugs are coming from somewhere within our communities and are being procured by students as young as 12. The questions that immediately spring to mind are, where does a person as young as 12 get the money to purchase drugs? who is supplying the drugs to children as young as 12? and why do children as young as 12 think they need drugs in the first place. All of us in our community need to deal with these issues and young people who are smart enough to stay out of this environment but who know information about suppliers should contact the police. If you are unable to do this, then contact Crimestoppers and provide the information anonymously to the Call Centre on 0800 555 111. WE DON'T WANT TO KNOW WHO YOU ARE JUST THE INFORMATION YOU HAVE.

ORGANISED CRIME

2009-10-30T10:57:00.002+13:00

It was great to see the success of the Organised and Financial Crime Agency New Zealand (OFCANZ) a couple of days ago and the new powers which are to be given to Police under the Criminal Proceeds(Recovery) Act in regards the recovery of assets acquired as a result of criminal activity. Information about crime given to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 can assist greatly in the activities of both OFCANZ and the new Asset Recovery Unit. Organised Crime has a number of income streams like any other business operation and it is important New Zealanders understand the interconnection. The cheap power tool, cartoon of smokes, electronic good, alcohol procured by a normally law abiding citizen may in all probability be producing the funds required to manufacture drugs. These drugs in turn will be sold to brothers, sisters, children and friends of those buying the cheap commodity. If you have information on these activities ring in the first place the Police or if this is not possible, ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 and provide that information.

COMMUNITY WORKING TOGETHER

2009-10-29T08:21:00.002+13:00

It was great to watch the TV News last night and hear from those who had chased and caught the teenager who was in the process of assaulting a young woman. This was a great example of community conscious individuals watching out for others. This is what we are about at Crimestoppers - encouraging individuals in the community to work together to create safer and more secure communities. You may not be in the position to react immediately and assist in the way those men did, but you may be in the position to provide information about crime and criminals to the Police or if this is not possible, ring CRIMESTOPPERS on 0800555111 and give the information anonymously - Our Mantra is: We don't want to know who you are, just the information you have.

ORGANISED CRIME

2009-10-22T21:42:00.002+13:00

The latest news about organised crime using college students to bring into the country illegal drugs is a real heads up for New Zealanders. These drugs cause absolute misery to many New Zealand families and we must stop ignoring what is occurring around us. If you are afraid of going to the Police because of intimidation ring CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111 and provide the information you have anonymously. Your anonymity is guaranteed. Don't leave this task to someone else. It could be your child, brother, sister to be the next person addicted to these drugs. To really understand the misery caused by drugs, try personalising the situation.

HELP MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY SAFER

2009-10-20T20:41:00.002+13:00

We all want safer and more secure communities. We don't want a very small minority of people determining how we live our life. Unfortunately this small law breaking group do just that. We owe them nothing - if you know of illegal activity then ring the police but if for some reason you can't do this then ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or use the online message form. If you know someone has committed a serious crime and you sit on this information to protect them then how are you going to feel if they strike again. This is very likely because human nature as it is, if a person hasn't learnt from their mistake/mishap/action by accepting responsibility, they are ripe to repeat the act. There are currently crimes out there where the police desperately need information to enable progress to be made. People have that information and are probably wrestling with their conscience. I ask those people to have the courage to come forward with the information. In the long run it is to everyone's advantage.

CYCLIST KILLED

2009-10-17T13:56:00.002+13:00

A respected Doctor was killed by a hit and run driver while riding his bicycle in Auckland. The vehicle was a Toyota. Did you see the incident and have you got information? Do you live with the individual concerned? The police are calling for you to come forward and provide information to them. This individual could do it again and it may be someone close to you. If it is too difficult to do that, don't do nothing. RING CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111 and provide the information you have.

GET IT OFF YOUR CONSCIENCE

2009-10-15T21:51:00.001+13:00

Someone pointed out to me that those who have information on unsolved, serious crimes from the past may now feel more comfortable in providing their information via Crimestoppers because of the guarantee of anonymity. I think this is a very valid observation. In the past the person may have found it very difficult to give information, not only because of the lack of a Crimestoppers facility, but because of where they were in their life and over the years have wrestled with their conscience. Well today that person can get that off their conscience and help bring closure to a victim somewhere in NZ without identifying themselves to anyone. Crimestoppers just want the information you have, not who you are.

A thought for today.

CRIME SITES

2009-10-14T22:32:00.002+13:00

To all Web Visitors - take the time to look at the crime site page especially Police 10-7 and Police Services. You may recognise someone the police are after or a boat that has been stolen and so on. In the future we will have a link to the stolen car list.

2009-10-13T20:29:00.002+13:00

I think this is a great website, and Crimestoppers 0800 number and the anonymity of it is a fabulous idea. I sincerely hope that we can all feel more at ease with reporting unacceptable criminal behaviour in our communities! Perhaps we can save more lives, prevent domestic violence escalating, save children from abuse, clean out streets of the scum dealing drugs and intimidating innocent citizens...... We now have some power in our hands to be a part of making a difference in our own back yards. Thank goodness!

I am also keen to offer any volunteer services you might need now or in the future realted to Crimstoppers, as I am very passionate about empowering people in our communities to speak up against the more undesirable elements to our families and communities.

Good stuff. Let me know if I can help in any way.

Reply:

Thank you Sarah for your comments. You are spot on. It is about empowerment of the individual. In a world where most feel dis-empowered and feel unable to respond in an effective manner, Crimestoppers commitment to preserve anonymity empowers the individual to take action against crime and criminals. Why should a small percentage of the population determine how we live? They shouldn't and its about the good citizens of NZ making a stand against crime. We all want safer and more secure communities. Thank you for your offer of assistance.

kind regards Lou

SPAM

2009-09-15T07:54:00.002+12:00

Are you confronted every day with SPAM particularly emails asking for money because the sender is a poor person in Nigeria, or that you have won lotto, or you have a distant relative who has left you a huge legacy, or you have a tax refund or you have a real good investment opportunity which will make you plenty. However firstly they want a Bank Account or need money to release the money and so on. Amazingly people every day are taken in. Some because they genuinely want to help and others who want to maximise an investment. Don't be taken in. There are plenty of well known charities you can contribute to and if an investment looks to good to be true, it probably is. Do not remit money to these fraudsters. It will end in you losing money. Many times they don't ask for a lot of money and it is easy to be sucked in. However, they ask a lot of people for a little bit, which all adds up to a big bit. DO NOT BE TAKEN IN.

GANGS

2009-09-14T15:32:00.004+12:00

Once again over the weekend New Zealanders were made aware of the negative effect that gangs have on society. The news over the weekend that the indoctrination of very young children into one of the most antisocial gangs in South Auckland is occurring. Another generation of youth begins its life journey which offers nothing but more violent and anti social behaviour which has a high likelihood of ending with addiction, convictions and jail time. Surely young children deserve better.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

2009-09-13T21:31:00.004+12:00

Crimestoppers is coming to New Zealand and is determined to assist the Police in reducing crime in New Zealand. However, the success of our efforts will be determined by every individual in New Zealand stepping up to the plate and taking action when they see crimes occurring. First and foremost we want them to ring the Police with the information they have. However, we do understand there are reasons why individuals do not want to be involved or identified as providing information. In the case of potential intimidation it is important that providers of information to Crimestoppers realise that they can give that information anonymously. We at Crimestoppers have no interest in knowing who you are, we don't require a statement and no court appearances. We just want your information. In over 20 years operating in the UK and over a million actionable calls no provider of information to Crimestoppers UK has been identified. It is also important to realise the information can be provided by message form. When the website is activated a online message form is available. In the interim it will be a UK designed form. We will use this form until Crimestoppers NZ has an encrypted form so that the sender can't be identified.