The amount of time and effort the nine Community Patrols New Zealand in the Western Bay put into their communities is simply impressive.

But once you realises each patrol is run completely by volunteers who spend vast amounts of time fundraising to cover their operational costs – the statistics are nothing short of staggering.

Bay of Plenty District Superintendent Andy McGregor with Community Patrol New Zealand BOP district support officer and Katikati coordinator Shirley Vincent. Photo: David Tauranga

This year alone from January to July, the nine Western Bay patrols worked a combined total of 4655 hours, covered 36,555 kilometres, and attended 2247 vehicle, property, disorder, people and special service-related incidents.

They are just nine of the 16 community patrols operating throughout the Bay of Plenty that are out there patrolling the streets day in and day out – motivated simply by a love for their communities.

On Friday, the Western Bay patrols were thanked for their time and effort with a $3150 donation from the New Zealand Police Managers' Guild Trust.

On hand to receive the donation was CPNZ BOP district support officer and Katikati coordinator Shirley Vincent who says the donation will be divvied up between the nine Western Bay patrols to help cover their operational costs.

'I'm feeling really pleased as this donation will help take some of the financial pressure off of these patrols,” says Shirley.

'Our patrols can only spend so much time fundraising to cover their operational costs, and really they need to be out there doing what they do best, which is looking after their communities.”

Shirley says it costs up to $5000 a year to run one patrol which covers expenses like equipment, vehicle maintenance and petrol.

Presenting the donation on behalf of the guild was Bay of Plenty District Superintendent Andy McGregor who lavished nothing but praise on the patrols.

'It's a great community organisation that does amazing things. The patrols are a key partner of police in keeping the community safe, they are our eyes and ears,” says Andy.

'What I find absolutely amazing is the wide range of people involved and how much time they donate to their communities, they're out there at night when you and are I probably in the comforts of our homes. They're out there working hard, it's just great.”

BEING SEEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Andy says the high visibility of the patrols in the community is one tool police employs to help them prevent crime from taking place in the community.

'When people see the patrols out there patrolling hotspots in the community, it make them think twice before doing anything stupid.”

Community Patrols New Zealand BOP district support officer and Katikati coordinator Shirley Vincent agrees, and recalls a story shared with her by her CPNZ colleagues in Papakura.

As the story goes, a 16-year-old male who was a prolific, well-known offender to police had been nabbed and was being transported to the Waikeria Youth Centre when he struck up a conversation with one of the wardens.

'The guy said before he got caught he was out there every night committing break-ins and whatnot, except for one night. The warden asked him why not that particular night, turned out everywhere he went the Papakura crime watch car was there,” she says with a chuckle.

'I tell this story to my troupes because when they're out on patrol they might not see people looking to commit crimes, but they certainly see us. It's these types of stories that make it all worthwhile.”

For more information about Community Patrols New Zealand and how to volunteer visit: www.cpnz.org.nz