18 June 2007

Media Release

State Insurance helps community patrols with funding boost

Eight community patrols across New Zealand are to receive a boost from State Insurance to help in their fight against crime.

The awarding of State’s Community Patrol Grants help affiliated community patrols prevent crime and reduce other problems that may impact on the local community and businesses.

The grants scheme sees each patrol awarded a patrol car package of a sign-written vehicle, $2000 cash and vehicle insurance or a running costs package of $2000 cash and vehicle insurance.

The successful 2007 community patrols are:

- Greerton Community Patrol (patrol car package)
- Invercargill Community Patrol (running costs)
- Manurewa Community Patrol (patrol car package)
- Napier Community Patrol (running costs)
- Opotiki Community Patrol (running costs)
- Otaki Community Patrol (running costs)
- Wainuiomata Community Patrol (running costs)
- Whakatane Community Patrol (running costs)

In the past three years, 38 patrols have received grants.

Head of State Insurance Martyn Collett says he’s thrilled that through the sponsorship State has been able to help build safer communities and reduce crime in local areas.

He said there had been a number of very high-calibre applications this year.

“We were particularly impressed with the passion and dedication of the eight awarded patrols - they work closely with the police and are true assets for their local communities,” he says.

Community Patrols work alongside the police by patrolling residential, business and industrial areas and reporting signs of suspicious activity. They observe and gather information and watch out for stolen cars.

Robert Fowler, Vice-Chairman from Community Patrols of New Zealand says for the third year running State has played a major role in assisting New Zealand patrols with the means to carry out their duties, as community patrollers working alongside the Police.

“State is our major sponsor and we are proud of the association. State recognises the value of supporting communities and community patrols gives them an ideal vehicle to do so.

“Each year sees the growth of support and effectiveness patrollers can give police in reducing crime - State is part of that success,” he says.

About State

State has been providing New Zealanders with an extensive range of personal and business insurance services for more than 100 years. State manages 1.1 million policies on behalf of more than 460,000 New Zealanders. State is a business division of IAG New Zealand Limited, New Zealand’s largest general insurer.

About CPNZ

Community Patrols of New Zealand is a national organisation that was formed in 2001 and has gone from strength to strength. There are now over 80 patrols with some 4000 members throughout New Zealand, affiliated to the national body.

ENDS

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