How safe are you?
A recent survey states that Kiwis say New Zealand is becoming more dangerous, with over a third of us having been burgled, and many battling long-term psychological damage following a break-in.
The Vivint survey found that two-third (68%) of the people believe living in New Zealand is less safe and burglaries have a long-term negative impact on the victims. Of the one-third of respondents who said they had been burgled, more than a fifth (21%) said it took them “some time” to feel safe again following the crime, while more than 220,000 New Zealanders (5%) said they have never been able to feel secure in their house again.
For some Kiwis, a burglary continues to affect them years down the track and even after moving, with over one-third (38%) of that group admitting they have never felt safe in any other house following the incident.
However, despite New Zealanders’ growing concerns over safety, a majority of us are lax when it comes to home security. Around six out of the 10 respondents said they do not have a home security system installed in their current home, and a further sixth (17%) have a home security system but do not always turn it on when they leave the house empty.
Many of those surveyed said they still only take basic security measures at night, with two-thirds (63%) saying they usually only lock doors and windows after dark while they are at home. More than 300,000 Kiwis also admit they usually don’t lock up at all, day or night.
A more safety-conscious 29% say they always lock doors and windows when they are at home, regardless of the time of day, which is something former police officer and Vivint general manager Marsden Hulme says is becoming more common following reports of daytime ‘opportunist’ break-ins.
“During my experience in the police force, we often came across situations where thieves had capitalised on an open front door, bedroom window or garage door.
“This is particularly common if high-value items are in a position where they are easy to spot, such as laptops, smartphones, cameras, tools and jewellery left in plain sight and close to unsecured doors and windows.” (Source: Vivint by Impact PR)
This has been the consistent message that our safety, at the end of the day, is our responsibility.
In running this series we have had tremendous feedback from the community and numerous questions that we took back to the Police and here’s what Jessica Phuang, Asian Liason Officer and Senior Sergeant Marty Brown had to say to your top questions when speaking to Rizwan Mohammed and Kumar Suresh of the Indian Weekender.
IWK: One of the biggest complaints from the people is that when the emergency number is called, the operators ask too many and at times unwanted questions that make the victim or the caller impatient.
Jessica: I think people have to understand as to how 111 works. When people call 111, the line is transferred to telecom department where the operator asks the caller what emergency services they are seeking—ambulance, fire, police, etc. When asked for Police service, only then the caller is connected to the Police department.
Here, I would like to advise people that, if English is not your first language, you could ask for help in Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, etc. We offer services in 44 different languages.
While a person is talking to an operator, the operator types every word spoken by the caller, which is displayed on the screen of a dispatcher who on priority basis calls the police on ground. So even as the operator is talking over the phone and taking down the description or asking about the specifics, the information is being processed and the Police are already in action.
The additional information is for the Police on ground to help the caller better and in some cases, identify the criminal. Another thing that is of priority to the person talking over the phone is the safety of the caller. They usually make sure that the caller is safe until the Police arrive for help. This is another reason why operators ask so many questions.
Some complain that Police is always late but the fact is, if the Police car is around the vicinity, they will arrive as early as possible to the crime scene, but if there is another situation that requires immediate attention and is of higher priority, the Police will always attend to that crime scene first. For example, if there is a car broken into and on the way to the crime scene, the officer finds out from the operator about a domestic violence case, he will attend to the more pressing and important case of domestic violence first.
IWK: We have come across cases where the shops have been broken into, but the owners of the shops have not reported the crime, as they feel this would make them vulnerable to burglary again. What do you have to say to them?
Jessica: If the incident goes unreported, the signal that is being sent to the criminal is that he can do it again and get away with it. If the incident is reported to police and the next day, the offender sees the Police vehicle in and around the house, it makes a statement that you are not taking the theft lightly. Automatically you are no more the target.
IWK: We have also heard that once the theft has taken place and the insurance money is claimed, the place becomes the potential target for theft again as the things are being replaced.
Jessica: When a person reports to the Police, the report goes into the Police system. We also have something called victim focus. In this system, a victim or an area gets different levels of attention depending on the number of crimes that has taken place in that area or with the individual. So if a house or an area has been burgled on multiple occasions, Police will give multiple visits every now and then to make sure things are under control. The Police area manager may also increase patrolling in the area. So it is always better to report burglaries or the Police will not be abl to give proper resources required to stop the crime in the areas where crimes are taking place repeatedly.
Also when the things are being replaced, I would advise people not to put those package boxes such as cardboard boxes outside the house. It is like advertising that I have got new items to the house.
Marty Brown: When you buy new things, keep a record of the serial numbers, model numbers, etc. You could also take photographs and keep it as a backup. This helps Police track your belongings when it is lost.
IWK: How can one get the update on the complaint filed?
Marty Brown: The first step would be to call the local Police station and ask for the file management center. They would be able to check electronically where the file is and what stage it is in. They will also be able to advise you about the investigating officer handling the case and how to get in touch with the concerned person.
Jessica: Each district has a file management department, which has all the information about all the reporting that has taken place. At times, it becomes challenging for the people in the file management department to come on the phone to answer all the calls. That is why we advise the community to approach their liaison officers. They will be in a better position to help with their cases and also help them find the right people to talk to.
IWK: There are times when the cases are closed or the offender is not caught and the victim is not satisfied with the investigation. What can a person do in such a scenario?
Marty Brown: Firstly, there could be a number of possible reasons why a person could not be caught. Maybe the person has left the country, has gone underground and we are not able to find them at that particular time. There are a number of occasions when the offences are minor and if we are unable to solve the case in say, six months time, we close the file. We have a list of guidelines that we follow and we discuss these things with the person who has filed the complaint. But having said that, if someone has committed a serious offence or crime and has gone out of the country or has gone underground and we can’t find them at that time, it doesn’t mean that we won’t deal with them when we do find them even if it means many years after the crime.
If someone is not satisfied with the investigation, they should talk to the investigating officer and give them an opportunity to explain because many times there are a lot of things complainers may not be aware of. If they are not happy with the explanation, they can contact the supervisor. The issue can also be escalated to Independent Police Conduct Authority by writing to them at PO box 5025 Wellington or visiting their website.
IWK: We have heard people complaining that Police takes burglary lightly after finding out that the property was insured. And in many cases, only 40% or less of the insured amount claimed is given to the victim. What is the police viewpoint on this issue?
Marty Brown: The fact that someone is insured or not has nothing to do with how we go about our investigation. It has no bearing or impact on the investigation.
Jessica: I always advise people to usually get themselves and their property insured. When Police ask the victim if the stolen things were covered by insurance, it is usually to make sure that they are able to carry on with their lives normally. The Police have no say in how the insurance company pays the victims.
IWK: We have heard that teenagers in a group, under the influence of alcohol, intimidate people in public. What is the Police’s stand on alcohol-related crime?
Jessica: We usually advise people to call up the Police immediately when they see drunken teenagers outside shops selling alcohol. Not only does it help us identify and fix problems, it also helps us to review licenses of the stores selling alcohol to underage people.
Marty Brown: Police understands that alcohol is one of the drivers of crime. We urge people to drink sensibly and not to be victims when drinking. We usually advise that one person should be sober when others are drinking in a group. The co-relation between alcohol and crime is well established through research both nationally and internationally. That is why we are also reviewing Auckland Council’s decisions towards local alcohol policy. But again, it comes down to common sense. Alcohol is an aggravator and more drinking means more chances of being a victim or even being offenders.
IWK: How do you think the public and Police can work together to make our city a better place?
Marty Brown: Auckland District Police is proud of the fact that we have reduced the amount of crime in the city over the years. We have done it through the strategy called prevention first. The basis of the “Prevention First” strategy is enabling people to look after themselves and their property. It is basically avoiding putting oneself in a situation where they lose stuff in the first place. We do everything to investigate once the offence has occurred, but we would rather make sure it doesn’t occur in the first place. That means taking basic precautions such as not letting your stuff go unattended, not putting yourself in a situation where you might get hurt, avoid walking in dark, unlit places during the night and avoiding places where you might get victimised. That is what we would advise the community and we would do as much as we can to protect them. But it is also people’s responsibility to take care of themselves.
Jessica: It is also about common sense. For example, in India, would you leave your bag unattended? A lot of people think that New Zealand is safe and they are not wrong. We are much safer than many countries but at the same time it doesn’t mean that we should be careless. It is our responsibility to keep ourselves safe. We just need to be extra careful.
We would like to encourage our readers to keep writing to us as we will henceforth run a regular column on various aspects of our safety in the community. Please send your queries and questions to editor@indianweekender.co.nz
A recent survey states that Kiwis say New Zealand is becoming more dangerous, with over a third of us having been burgled, and many battling long-term psychological damage following a break-in.
The Vivint survey found that two-third (68%) of the people believe living in New Zealand is less safe...
A recent survey states that Kiwis say New Zealand is becoming more dangerous, with over a third of us having been burgled, and many battling long-term psychological damage following a break-in.
The Vivint survey found that two-third (68%) of the people believe living in New Zealand is less safe and burglaries have a long-term negative impact on the victims. Of the one-third of respondents who said they had been burgled, more than a fifth (21%) said it took them “some time” to feel safe again following the crime, while more than 220,000 New Zealanders (5%) said they have never been able to feel secure in their house again.
For some Kiwis, a burglary continues to affect them years down the track and even after moving, with over one-third (38%) of that group admitting they have never felt safe in any other house following the incident.
However, despite New Zealanders’ growing concerns over safety, a majority of us are lax when it comes to home security. Around six out of the 10 respondents said they do not have a home security system installed in their current home, and a further sixth (17%) have a home security system but do not always turn it on when they leave the house empty.
Many of those surveyed said they still only take basic security measures at night, with two-thirds (63%) saying they usually only lock doors and windows after dark while they are at home. More than 300,000 Kiwis also admit they usually don’t lock up at all, day or night.
A more safety-conscious 29% say they always lock doors and windows when they are at home, regardless of the time of day, which is something former police officer and Vivint general manager Marsden Hulme says is becoming more common following reports of daytime ‘opportunist’ break-ins.
“During my experience in the police force, we often came across situations where thieves had capitalised on an open front door, bedroom window or garage door.
“This is particularly common if high-value items are in a position where they are easy to spot, such as laptops, smartphones, cameras, tools and jewellery left in plain sight and close to unsecured doors and windows.” (Source: Vivint by Impact PR)
This has been the consistent message that our safety, at the end of the day, is our responsibility.
In running this series we have had tremendous feedback from the community and numerous questions that we took back to the Police and here’s what Jessica Phuang, Asian Liason Officer and Senior Sergeant Marty Brown had to say to your top questions when speaking to Rizwan Mohammed and Kumar Suresh of the Indian Weekender.
IWK: One of the biggest complaints from the people is that when the emergency number is called, the operators ask too many and at times unwanted questions that make the victim or the caller impatient.
Jessica: I think people have to understand as to how 111 works. When people call 111, the line is transferred to telecom department where the operator asks the caller what emergency services they are seeking—ambulance, fire, police, etc. When asked for Police service, only then the caller is connected to the Police department.
Here, I would like to advise people that, if English is not your first language, you could ask for help in Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, etc. We offer services in 44 different languages.
While a person is talking to an operator, the operator types every word spoken by the caller, which is displayed on the screen of a dispatcher who on priority basis calls the police on ground. So even as the operator is talking over the phone and taking down the description or asking about the specifics, the information is being processed and the Police are already in action.
The additional information is for the Police on ground to help the caller better and in some cases, identify the criminal. Another thing that is of priority to the person talking over the phone is the safety of the caller. They usually make sure that the caller is safe until the Police arrive for help. This is another reason why operators ask so many questions.
Some complain that Police is always late but the fact is, if the Police car is around the vicinity, they will arrive as early as possible to the crime scene, but if there is another situation that requires immediate attention and is of higher priority, the Police will always attend to that crime scene first. For example, if there is a car broken into and on the way to the crime scene, the officer finds out from the operator about a domestic violence case, he will attend to the more pressing and important case of domestic violence first.
IWK: We have come across cases where the shops have been broken into, but the owners of the shops have not reported the crime, as they feel this would make them vulnerable to burglary again. What do you have to say to them?
Jessica: If the incident goes unreported, the signal that is being sent to the criminal is that he can do it again and get away with it. If the incident is reported to police and the next day, the offender sees the Police vehicle in and around the house, it makes a statement that you are not taking the theft lightly. Automatically you are no more the target.
IWK: We have also heard that once the theft has taken place and the insurance money is claimed, the place becomes the potential target for theft again as the things are being replaced.
Jessica: When a person reports to the Police, the report goes into the Police system. We also have something called victim focus. In this system, a victim or an area gets different levels of attention depending on the number of crimes that has taken place in that area or with the individual. So if a house or an area has been burgled on multiple occasions, Police will give multiple visits every now and then to make sure things are under control. The Police area manager may also increase patrolling in the area. So it is always better to report burglaries or the Police will not be abl to give proper resources required to stop the crime in the areas where crimes are taking place repeatedly.
Also when the things are being replaced, I would advise people not to put those package boxes such as cardboard boxes outside the house. It is like advertising that I have got new items to the house.
Marty Brown: When you buy new things, keep a record of the serial numbers, model numbers, etc. You could also take photographs and keep it as a backup. This helps Police track your belongings when it is lost.
IWK: How can one get the update on the complaint filed?
Marty Brown: The first step would be to call the local Police station and ask for the file management center. They would be able to check electronically where the file is and what stage it is in. They will also be able to advise you about the investigating officer handling the case and how to get in touch with the concerned person.
Jessica: Each district has a file management department, which has all the information about all the reporting that has taken place. At times, it becomes challenging for the people in the file management department to come on the phone to answer all the calls. That is why we advise the community to approach their liaison officers. They will be in a better position to help with their cases and also help them find the right people to talk to.
IWK: There are times when the cases are closed or the offender is not caught and the victim is not satisfied with the investigation. What can a person do in such a scenario?
Marty Brown: Firstly, there could be a number of possible reasons why a person could not be caught. Maybe the person has left the country, has gone underground and we are not able to find them at that particular time. There are a number of occasions when the offences are minor and if we are unable to solve the case in say, six months time, we close the file. We have a list of guidelines that we follow and we discuss these things with the person who has filed the complaint. But having said that, if someone has committed a serious offence or crime and has gone out of the country or has gone underground and we can’t find them at that time, it doesn’t mean that we won’t deal with them when we do find them even if it means many years after the crime.
If someone is not satisfied with the investigation, they should talk to the investigating officer and give them an opportunity to explain because many times there are a lot of things complainers may not be aware of. If they are not happy with the explanation, they can contact the supervisor. The issue can also be escalated to Independent Police Conduct Authority by writing to them at PO box 5025 Wellington or visiting their website.
IWK: We have heard people complaining that Police takes burglary lightly after finding out that the property was insured. And in many cases, only 40% or less of the insured amount claimed is given to the victim. What is the police viewpoint on this issue?
Marty Brown: The fact that someone is insured or not has nothing to do with how we go about our investigation. It has no bearing or impact on the investigation.
Jessica: I always advise people to usually get themselves and their property insured. When Police ask the victim if the stolen things were covered by insurance, it is usually to make sure that they are able to carry on with their lives normally. The Police have no say in how the insurance company pays the victims.
IWK: We have heard that teenagers in a group, under the influence of alcohol, intimidate people in public. What is the Police’s stand on alcohol-related crime?
Jessica: We usually advise people to call up the Police immediately when they see drunken teenagers outside shops selling alcohol. Not only does it help us identify and fix problems, it also helps us to review licenses of the stores selling alcohol to underage people.
Marty Brown: Police understands that alcohol is one of the drivers of crime. We urge people to drink sensibly and not to be victims when drinking. We usually advise that one person should be sober when others are drinking in a group. The co-relation between alcohol and crime is well established through research both nationally and internationally. That is why we are also reviewing Auckland Council’s decisions towards local alcohol policy. But again, it comes down to common sense. Alcohol is an aggravator and more drinking means more chances of being a victim or even being offenders.
IWK: How do you think the public and Police can work together to make our city a better place?
Marty Brown: Auckland District Police is proud of the fact that we have reduced the amount of crime in the city over the years. We have done it through the strategy called prevention first. The basis of the “Prevention First” strategy is enabling people to look after themselves and their property. It is basically avoiding putting oneself in a situation where they lose stuff in the first place. We do everything to investigate once the offence has occurred, but we would rather make sure it doesn’t occur in the first place. That means taking basic precautions such as not letting your stuff go unattended, not putting yourself in a situation where you might get hurt, avoid walking in dark, unlit places during the night and avoiding places where you might get victimised. That is what we would advise the community and we would do as much as we can to protect them. But it is also people’s responsibility to take care of themselves.
Jessica: It is also about common sense. For example, in India, would you leave your bag unattended? A lot of people think that New Zealand is safe and they are not wrong. We are much safer than many countries but at the same time it doesn’t mean that we should be careless. It is our responsibility to keep ourselves safe. We just need to be extra careful.
We would like to encourage our readers to keep writing to us as we will henceforth run a regular column on various aspects of our safety in the community. Please send your queries and questions to editor@indianweekender.co.nz
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