A new look community patrol vehicle is hitting the streets of Katikati town and the rural outskirts.

'Our patrolling area consists of Tanners Point in the north and down south to Aongatete including all roads leading to the east and west,” says Katikati Community Patrols team leader Ross Sutherland.

'With our local police force having an extremely vast area to look after we are here to assist in being their eyes and ears while they are busy not only with the Katikati district but also south to Omokoroa, Te Puna right down the bridge at Wairoa River.

'As we are widely known as ‘The Night Owls' the patrol lately has been out and about during the day especially during the picking season, school holidays and the summer months.”

The community patrol vehicle is equipped with the basics - first aid, traffic cones, flashing lights, jumper leads, fire extinguisher, and a mobile defibrillator.

The brand-new MG ZS SUV supplied by Farmer Autovillage in Tauranga has been paid for with donations from TECT Funding, Katikati Lions Club, CPNZ Trust, Taylor Brothers Ltd, WBOP Council and Avaco.

Ross says the patrol volunteers preform a range of tasks and activities including support for the police, security, and crowd control at community events, random patrolling of business's and residential areas including the rural sector, support in civil defence incidents, assisting police in surveillance of crime scenes, help in finding missing persons, serving as visible deterrent for criminal activity and assisting when needed at vehicle related accidents.

'The NZ Police provide training on a regular basis and training modules such as security awareness, patrolling and observational skills, health, and safety.”

If you are interested and want to be involved in your community, please pick up a form from the local police Station or contact Ross Sutherland at katikati@cpnz.org.nz