Know Your Neighbours
The most important action you can take to make your place safer is to know your neighbours. Exchange contact details, discuss your crime and safety concerns, and decide what you would do in an emergency.
Let neighbours know when you are going to be away. Swap holiday addresses and phone numbers. Let each other know if visitors or tradespeople will be in your house while you are away.
Be a good neighbour
If your neighbours are away, you can help them by making their house look ‘lived in’:
» Turn on lights at night.
» Close curtains at night and open them during the day.
» Mow lawns.
» Clear mail, especially junk mail and newspapers.
» Use their clothesline or driveway.
» Keep an eye on their house and walk around it once a day to check it is secure.
Question strangers, but don’t say the neighbours are away. Write down their description, and note the time and date.
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Write down the registration numbers of unfamiliar vehicles moving slowly or stopping in the street. Report anything suspicious to your local police station. If you think a crime is being committed or someone is in serious danger, call the police immediately on 111. Start a Neighbourhood Support group Neighbourhood Support helps neighbours to talk to each other and works closely with the Police and other organisations in your community to reduce crime, improve safety and prepare to deal with emergencies and natural disasters. For more information see www.ns.org.nz |
Civil Defence
Civil Defence helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. It is not an emergency service that will turn up at your door. Emergency services could take several days to reach you.
You are responsible for:
» Preparing your family to survive with sufficient food and water.
» Staying warm and dry for several days after natural disasters such as floods, fires, tsunami and earthquakes. Your survival after a major disaster could depend on the food and resources you and your neighbours have between you.
For more information on how to prepare and get through a civil defence emergency, go to www.civildefence.govt.nz
Family Violence
Family violence is a crime. It is not a private matter. People in violent relationships often cannot help themselves. They need your help. In an emergency dial 111 and ask for the Police. Your call could save a life. Ignoring family violence could result in serious injury or death. Nearly half of all homicides in New Zealand are family violence related. If you are a victim of family violence or in a relationship that makes you feel fearful about your or anyone else’s safety, seek help as soon as possible. You have the right to be safe. If you are a friend or acquaintance of a victim of family violence, you can help by listening and being supportive, ensuring the person and any children are safe, and finding out what help is available in the community. If you are a friend or acquaintance of a violent person, you can help by telling them it is not OK and assisting them to find help.
For further assistance:
» www.areyouok.org.nz – This website has information about family violence, what it is and where to get help.
» Family Violence Information Line (0800 456 450) provides self-help information and connects people to services where appropriate. It is available seven days a week, from 9am to 11pm, with an after-hours message redirecting callers in the case of an emergency.
» Child, Youth and Family Phone 0508 FAMILY (0508 326 459) if you are concerned about a child or young person.
» Relationship Services Phone 0800 RELATE (0800 735 283) during business hours for further information or to make a booking for counselling.
» Women’s Refuge Phone 0800 REFUGE (733 843) or look in the white pages of the phone book for your local refuge.
» Shine ‘Safe Homes in NZ everyday’ Free helpline 0508 744 633 provides information to victims of family violence and to those worried about a friend or family member who might be experiencing family violence.
» YouthLaw – www.youthlaw.co.nz is located in Auckland. Phone (09) 309 6967 (they accept collect calls made from anywhere in New Zealand by under 25 year olds).
» National Network of Stopping Violence is a network of community organisations working to end men’s violence to women and children across Aotearoa/New Zealand. See www.nnsvs.org.nz to find your nearest office.
» Jigsaw is a network of groups that advocate against all form of child harm and neglect, and family violence. Phone the helpline 0800 228 737.
» Community Law Centres are located throughout the country – look in the white pages of the phone book.
» Victim Support groups are located throughout the country – look in the white pages of the phone book.
Personal Safety
You will probably never have a prowler on your property or face an intruder in your house, but you should have a plan just in case.
If you wake and find an INTRUDER in your home...
» Get out if you can.
» Dial 111 and ask for the Police.
» Listen to what the Police tell you.
» If you have to act – yell or scream! Blow a whistle.
» Don’t try and catch the intruder or block their escape.
If you suspect there is a PROWLER outside...
» Dial 111 and ask for the Police.
» Listen to what the Police tell you.
» If you are able to, turn ON all outside lights.
» Turn OFF all inside lights.
» Make a loud noise to frighten the prowler away and alert your neighbours.
If you arrive home and think there’s a BURGLAR inside your house…
» Dial 111 and ask for the Police.
» Don’t go inside.
» Go to a safe place and wait for the Police.
To keep yourself safe at home
» Install a wide-angle door viewer so you can see who is at your door.
» Keep your doors and windows secure and close your curtains at night.
» Invest in good quality, secure locks.
» If you live alone, don’t advertise the fact – for example keep your answerphone message generic – “No one is available to take your call” – rather than “I can’t take your call”.
