As Community Liaison Officer, I am not only based at Cambridge station, but also part of the wider Western Waikato Police prevention team. This team is composed of other community liaison officers, school and community officers and youth aid officers from Huntly down to Te Kuiti.
Part of our combined role is event policing and this week will see me heading out to Fieldays at Mystery Creek. I am looking forward to the opportunity to work the event and meet members of the wider rural community. If you see me there, do stop and say hi.
I am also looking forward to leading the Cambridge Christmas parade on Sunday afternoon – it is always such a great event.
With the silly season upon us and many companies now having Christmas celebrations, I want to remind people about host responsibility. If you are booking a private function, planning needs to include how your staff will get to and from the location. Consider nominating a sober driver, utilising a courtesy van or taxi chits. Where alcohol is involved, be sure to provide adequate food and be aware of intoxication levels.
My experience shows this is especially important if your work function involves bussing staff to team building activities out of town, where celebrations span several hours. Every year, alcohol is a key contributor to disorder and assault type offending. If we take responsibility not only for ourselves, but also for our friends and colleagues, we can keep this to a minimum and reduce harm and those avoidable calls for police. If ever you see someone about to drive when drunk or drugged, take steps to intervene if possible and call 111 if they have already left, providing vehicle and driver details plus a clear direction of travel or intended destination. Your call could enable us to prevent a serious crash.
On other matters, our commercial vehicle team have asked me to remind people about oversize vehicles and the high level bridge. Last Friday morning, not one, but two oversize vehicles ignored signs (one hit the height limiting sign and continued across the bridge). This was reported and the companies involved are being spoken to. The Waipa District Council camera network includes coverage of the bridge approach for just this scenario and offenders will be followed up. The limitations on the bridge are in place due to vital weight and width restrictions. These measures ensure the structural integrity of the bridge and traffic flow. If the warning sign triggers and redirects you to Williamson Street, please follow the instruction.
Key takeaways from me this week: be a responsible party host and if you stop a mate from drink driving, you’re a bloody legend.
