September 18, 2012.

Councillors meet with Police

Kapiti Coast District Councillors discussed a range of initiatives with senior police representatives today aimed at making the Kapiti Lights area at Paraparaumu safe after two recent murders in the area.

“We had a very good meeting with the area police commander Inspector John Price and his team for more than an hour this morning and discussed a wide range of initiatives,” said Mayor Jenny Rowan.

The initiatives included better lighting in the private car park area, increased CCTV surveillance, the need for a bylaw imposing a formal liquor ban in the general area, an increased police presence, and offers of support.

“This was a conversation about how we as a community should respond. It was not about blame. It was about showing leadership and a way through. What we don’t want and must not have, is another tragic incident.”

The owners of the Monteith’s bar were looking to install more lights and extra CCTV cameras at the western end of the car park area. Other initiatives could include a community bus.

Council is to conduct a ‘Crime prevention through environmental design’ audit of the Kapiti Lights area this week to see what changes can be made to make the area more safe.

Council is also looking seriously at a formal liquor ban for the general area backed by a by-law. The Police have undertaken to supply information to support this move. A private liquor ban already covers the private land area of Kapiti Lights and is enforced by staff from the two local bars but with limited results.

“The problem we have is the Kapiti Lights car park area is private land and this does provide a limit at the moment on what both Council and the Police can do. However, we have a meeting planned with the property owners tomorrow to discuss this and a range of issues.”

Mayor Rowan said Police had substantially increased their presence on the ground in the area and would be enforcing zero tolerance. “The Police have been absolutely marvellous and have a very good grasp of the issues involved.

“However, it is clear we have a group of young men who drink too much and resort to violence with tragic outcomes. The Police are well aware of who the individuals are. The challenge now is to re-direct their energies into more positive outcomes.”

Mayor Rowan said the Wellington Rugby Union – the Hurricanes franchise holders – had offered help, as had others like former Race Relations conciliator Gregory Fortuin and motivational speaker and boxer Billy Graham.

“We will be following up on these extremely kind offers of help.”

Mayor Rowan said although tragic, the two recent deaths had to be put in perspective. “Kapiti Coast is a great place in which to live and work, and by and large, extremely safe. We will be working very hard over the next several weeks to ensure that it remains so.”

The councillors who took part in the meeting with the senior police team included Tony Lester, Diane Ammundsen, Hilary Wooding, Ross Church, Deputy Mayor Roger Booth, Peter Ellis and K. Gurunathan. Councillors Tony Lloyd, Penny Gaylor and Mike Cardiff were out of town.

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