The Bethlehem Community Patrol is low on funds and volunteers – and is putting out a call to its community for both.

The unit currently has 12 volunteers patrolling Bethlehem, Brookfield, Otumoetai and Matua areas twice-weekly – but they'd like 40 helpers, to see their vehicle hit the road daily.

CPNZ Bethlehem patrol trainer Dave Morgan, CPNZ district rep Shirley Vincent and Senior Constable Ian Searle would like to see more people join the Bethlehem Community Patrol, so it can keep up the good work. Photo: David Tauranga.

Bay of Plenty CPNZ district representative Shirley Vincent says community patrols aim to keep communities safer by being the eyes and ears for police.

'We are doing our bit to make sure nothing bad happens in the community but we need help.”

Shirley says the Bethlehem patrol alone costs about $4000 each year to operate – and to date their bank balance is about $160. The last donation was received in May.

Shirley says it costs $85 to fill the patrol car, which comes out of volunteers' pockets – and vehicle insurance is another expense.

She's pleading with the community and local businesses they keep safe to 'help us to help you”.

'What would be great would be if people or businesses set up an automatic payment of $20 per month to go to the patrol.

'It's not a large amount each month for businesses, but it would make a world of difference and ensure that we're out there patrolling to keep our community safe,” says Shirley.

Earlier this year a SunLive story asked for volunteers to come forward and help carry out patrols throughout Tauranga.

CPNZ received 15 responses, with the volunteers now going through the training process.

'We couldn't patrol before; now we are doing regular patrols every week. With more volunteers our patrols will only increase.”

But Shirley says the call is going out again to Bethlehem residents – 'your community patrol needs you”.

'Community patrols are made up of ordinary people like you, pitching in and helping to make neighbourhoods safer.”

While patrolling CPNZ units look for suspicious activity, which they report to Police. And Police provide patrols with information on areas seeing a rise in crime, which they want monitored.

Tauranga Police's patrol liaison senior constable Ian Searle says they enjoy a good relationship with CPNZ.

'The patrols certainly go a long way to help police, because offenders may see them and be deterred from committing crime.

'It is preventing crime from happening in the first place, which is great and what we want.”

Application forms to become a Community Patrol volunteer are available at Tauranga Police or can be downloaded from the Community Patrols New Zealand website.