Featherston Community Patrol (FNCP) – a member of CPNZ (Community Patrol New Zealand)

Tana Klaricich

CPNZ Vision – “A New Zealand where everyone feels safe.” CPNZ Mission – “In partnership with others, we prevent crime and reduce harm through the active presence of trained patrollers.”

Featherston has had its very own community patrol for many years now, in fact one of our current patrollers, Alan Brooks (Brooksy), goes right back to the founding of Featherston night patrol in 1990. Our team of volunteers patrol the rural environs and fair streets of Featherston, from Tauherenikau to Otauira Reserve, Bucks Road to Lake Domain, and everywhere in between. Members of our group come from all walks of life –retirees and real estate, business and builders, café owners and contractors, fire fighters and principals, stay-at-home mums and Wellington city workers.

Over the years, our trained patrollers have been the eyes and ears for the police by being an active and obvious presence within our town, along with just generally keeping an eye out there while our townsfolk are tucked up in the warmth of their beds. We have helped travellers who have broken down, gotten lost or had flat tyres. We have checked up on campers on colds night, supported emergency services, looked in on our three schools to make sure all is well, lent a helping hand with parking for Anzac Day, yelled sternly at taggers caught in the act, informed businesses of open windows or left-on lights, and swung past addresses where a request for a welfare check has been made. Only a few weeks ago, our patrol was able to provide registration details and a concise report, with evidential photos, to both the police and council when a ‘donut-ing’ carload from Kapiti got stuck on the soft ground beside the tennis courts. Karma’s a jolly thing, huh?

Our FNCP operates purely through donations and relies on the goodwill of those we are out patrolling for the Featherston community. We are always in need of new patrollers and are actively working to grow our numbers so we can provide even more patrol cover across each week. We thought if you knew why we do what we do, then it might spark an interest in you. If you would like to know more, email the Featherston Community Patrol (FNCP) at: featherston@cpnz.org.nz

Here are some insights from a few of our current community patrollers…

Garry Thomas: I first joined community patrol when the town was having trouble with a group of young people causing havoc and mayhem with everyone and everything. We revived the patrol and I have continued to do so because we need more eyes around the district. Been doing it for almost 18 years now.

Vicky Alexander: When you move to a new town, where you know few of your neighbours, one of the best ways to find out about, and become a part of your community, is to join the local community patrol. There you will find yourself welcomed into a group who have a common interest - the wellbeing of the town you have chosen as your new home. It’s as simple as having a driver’s licence, a police check, and an open book test, and then you are kitted up and ready to see your town when most are tucked up inside. You and your fellow patroller pick the hours you want to patrol, the patrol unit provides the car, and for two hours a month, more if you are happy to do so, you drive off into the night. Of course, you don’t have to patrol at night - you may choose to do a daytime patrol, or walking patrols around town, to show face. We have some marvellous businesses in our community who wholeheartedly support us, as well as many locals who recognise that our presence can be a deterrent to undesirable behaviour. Patrollers (we always patrol in pairs) don’t get out of the car - they just act as eyes and ears for the police, and report to them accordingly. You see some interesting places, and some different aspects of your town, all of which have me loving my new community. Join us - I doubt you’ll regret it.

Tana Klaricich: As principal of South Featherston School, I’ve had an association with Featherston for more than seven years, but I wasn’t living locally until recently. A year ago, I bought a property just outside of town and started looking at ways I could get more involved in the community and ‘give back’ in some way. After a chance conversation with a current patroller, I saw community patrolling as a great way to do some real good! I love driving and I’m also a total night-owl, so why not spend two or three of my nights per month combining the two? There are also some really great people who are part of FNCP, and a patrol is never dull!

Jack & Silvia: Small towns rely on wrap-around community support, so joining community patrol was an active way to help keep our town safe when we first moved here. It soon became ‘date night’ for us!

Ajay Bhati: I was tired of seeing so many break-ins etc and people always moaning about it on social media and not doing anything, I thought instead of moaning why don’t I do something about it and in the process encourage others too. Community patrol was in some way an answer to prevent all of that, so I joined. I also like the flexibility that it gives me, especially having a young kid at home. I don’t want to over-commit and lose out on the precious time with my girls.

Patsy Wooles: I support initiatives that keep Pae tū Mōkai a safe place for us all. Community patrol is a continuing presence in our area that is helping to keep crime at a very low rate. We can all be proud of that. Being on patrol for a couple of hours in a car together, is a good way to get to know other patrollers!

Jen Bhati: I joined the community patrol to help support our community. All too often we find it easy to sit back and moan there isn’t enough police. So, this is a small way we can help bridge the gap and give the extra sets of eyes to keep our community a safe space for all!

Mike Van Woerkom: I joined the (then) Featherston Night Patrol as a way of giving something back to the community that means so much to me. If my small contribution can make a difference, then mission accomplished!