A brief and incomplete HISTORY of community patrolling in Nelson.
"In May 1993 a bloke by the name of Kevin O'Laughlin was found dead in the entrance to Montgomery Square.
Nobody saw how his body got there or who caused his death and the Mayor (Philip Woollaston) became concerned about this and felt something should be done about it and called a public meeting. This also coincided with a new concept of patrols driving round and looking out for trouble spots without being vigilantes and as he explained this idea, it caught on with the public in attendance.
From this, a 'steering committee' was formed and a name was sought for the new group. So we were asked what our reasons were for joining to see if something could come out of it that way. Being me, I took my eye out and said it was my intention to keep an eye out for the safety of the public (or words to that effect). From this the name Roving Eyes was established.
Laurie and I are the only 2 remaining volunteers who have been there from the onset."
- Eric Stewart
Roving Eyes (1994 - 2001)
The "Operation Roving Eyes Observers Manual" prepared by the Nelson City Council in association with the Nelson Police back in 1993 envisaged a
trial period of three months from start up. The stated goal was "To assist the Police to identify the incidence of crime, vandalism and behavioural
problems within Nelson City, Tahunanui, the Maitai and the Brook." Acceptable patrol combinations were identified as either 2 patrols of 3 volunteers of
3 hours per evening or one patrol of 3 volunteers of 5 hours per evening and NCC provided a car and fuel right from the start.
The first co-ordinator was Neil Zindel who worked for Radio New Zealand and patrollers went to premises near Buxton Square to pick up their uniform T-shirts and collect the patrol vehicle keys.
The first patrol took place on Friday, 21 January 1994.
Within a few months, the patrol got the use of the Community Trust Building and Neil continued as co-ordinator for another four years. In late 1997/early
1998 Roving Eyes moved to the Volunteer Centre in Halifax Street.
In March 1999, the Roving Eyes patrol car was fitted with a two-way police radio for the first time; previously we had been able to use a police hand-held radio only if one were available.
Nightwatch Nelson (2001 - 2009)
As at 20 October 2005, when a statistics summary was prepared, there were 31 volunteers on the rosters with 130 volunteers having been recorded as having
joined and left after varying periods of time in the first eleven years and nine months.
Betty Van Rooyen was the eighth successive patrol co-ordinator and, in 2007, we won a TrustPower Supreme Community Award with an award ceremony taking place in Seifried's Estate. The 2009 TrustPower National Community Awards are being held in Nelson and Tasman from 12-14 March 2010.
On Saturday, 25 July, 2009 a message was sent to NCP members that Garry Thompson had volunteered to be Nightwatch Nelson
co-ordinator - the tenth in the position sinced we started.
Nelson Community Patrol (NCP)
Webpage version 0.046, 18 December 2009|
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