Titahi Bay to lose popular cop

BY KRIS DANDO

Titahi Bay has lost its popular community constable, but a new one is on the way, say police.

Jeremy Addison is leaving for Australia with his family in the coming weeks.

Kapiti-Mana police area commander John Spence says maintaining a police presence in the suburb is a priority and a replacement will be appointed as soon as possible.

Titahi Bay has seen several community constables come and go in recent years while other suburbs like Tawa (Peter Reeves) and Porirua East (Rob Gregory and Peer Nielsen) have enjoyed more stability. Addison had been in the role since 2008.

Whitby received its first community cop for many years in 2009.

"It seems to come in waves, all of a sudden two or three guys might move on," Mr Spence says. "Generally it's pretty good in Porirua and Tawa, there's a good core.

"The police base there [in Titahi Bay] is serving the community well and we're confident of having someone in place very shortly."

Titahi Bay Residents Association chairman Graeme Ebbett says local police "come and go, it's something you have to accept," when opportunities such as promotion come up or family circumstances change.

The important thing, he says, is that the base is well-staffed and that is certainly the case for them, with plenty of volunteers.

The establishment of the base, in the Whitehouse Rd shops, has led to a marked decrease in crime in that area.

"Jeremy has been excellent, he achieved a lot of things without having to confront people head-on and it's going to be hard to replace him.

"But I think we do have that continuity there and a new community constable will be able to set up quite easily here."

Mr Ebbett says there is a positive feeling in the Bay when it comes to crime prevention, with excellent networking between residents and police.

He hopes people will get involved when the Porirua Guardians begin patrolling the suburb.

- Kapi-Mana News