PAULA BENNETT MP for WAITAKERE

Letter to the Editor - Western Leader

RE: Less crime in West Auckland.

The New Zealand Police recently released New Zealand’s crime statistics for 2010 and I just wanted to share with you the great news that crime in Waitakere is on the decrease.

Reported crimes dropped 10.4 per cent across Waitakere between 2009 and 2010 and Police resolved 49.9 per cent of the crimes reported in the area.

West Auckland’s drop in crime was better than the national average which decreased 5.6 per cent and our Police also resolved more crimes, which is again great news.

I would like to go on record thanking our local police for all their hard work and dedication.

However, there were still over 19,000 crimes reported last year which as a proud Westie I will never be happy with. Our community needs to keep working together to stamp out burglary, assault and other antisocial behaviour.

So Westies, talk to you neighbours, offer to watch their place when they are away and if you think someone is in trouble don’t be afraid to go to the authorities.

PB