From the Police Commander As Police, our goal is to ensure the safety of our homes, roads and communities, however we cannot do this alone – it takes a team effort. The responsibility for the safety of all, sits with us all. As members of Neighbourhood Support, you are part of our team. You are our eyes and ears when we cannot be there, and your support is crucial. Thank you for looking out for each other and for caring about your communities. We are fortunate in this district to have incredible support not just from our partners, but also from the public. In fact, Canterbury Police District has one of the highest rates of trust and confidence in the country.
It is a responsibility we take extremely seriously. To uphold this social contract, we are required to act with the utmost integrity at all times and be accountable for our actions. We do this with the knowledge that we are not acting alone. We have the backing of the law and the support of our community and our partners. Without you, we couldn’t do what we do. My role as your District Commander is to ensure an effective and efficient policing service that is the cornerstone of a free and democratic society under the rule of the law, so that New Zealand remains a fantastic, peaceful country where we can all feel safe. There is no greater honour than to have the trust and confidence of the people we serve, and as part of our team, that honour also belongs to you as the community. Kia ora rawa atu
This is important because we need the support of our community to provide an effective service. This is what we call ‘policing by consent’ – it is our style of policing in New Zealand and it is embedded in trust and confidence. Sir Robert Peel, the founder of the Metropolitan Police Force, expressed policing by consent as an approach to define an ethical police service. This approach recognises Police as community members in uniform, who are entrusted by the public to ensure the safety of our homes, roads and communities.
John Price District Commander, Canterbury Police
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