Deb Hann – Senior Constable
Great news to start, the vehicle responsible for the burnouts on Shakespeare Street by Kingsley Street that I mentioned in a recent column, has been identified, located and impounded last week. Investigations continue into the identity of the driver.
The team have been following up on people for whom the court have issued warrants to arrest. A warrant to arrest is most commonly issued when a person has failed to attend court for a hearing on the day to which they have been bailed or summonsed. A warrant may also be issued for a witness if they similarly do not attend a court hearing to give evidence when they have been summonsed to do so.
Senior Constable Deb Hann – On the Beat
The Family court may also issue a warrant, for example if a respondent to a Protection Order has not met the course completion requirements set by the court before their hearing. In some circumstances where a (usually recidivist) offender has been unable to be located for a crime and the strength of evidence is strong, Police may opt to lay a charge with the courts and apply for a warrant to be issued, in lieu of summons, to bring them before the court.
Did you know, when a person has a warrant to arrest, Police have the right to enter – without (search) warrant – any premises in which they have reasonable cause to believe the person who has the warrant is located, to look for them? Any person with an active warrant for their arrest, could be arrested at any time and at any place.
Once arrested for a warrant, the courts require that Police hold the person in custody until appearing in court at the earliest opportunity. This means if you are arrested for a warrant on a Saturday afternoon, you would stay in the cells until court on Monday.
So, what do you do if you have a warrant? The best thing to do is obviously avoid getting one in the first place – take note of court dates and attend them. The next best thing is to make a voluntary appearance at a Police station at the earliest opportunity so the matter can be dealt with.
If you arrive early in the morning, you will likely be processed and appear in court the same day.
In other news, when this column goes to print, we will have just held our Police recruitment seminar at Cambridge Police Station. If a career in policing interests you but you missed out on Wednesday, additional seminars are scheduled in the district in the coming month providing further opportunities to go along.
Be sure to visit www.newcops.govt.nz to get further information.
Lastly a reminder to cyclists on pack rides; the Victoria Bridge pedestrian walkways are not suitable for you to use. Please cycle on the road and onto the main bridge lanes. Have a good week.
