11 Jun 2013

Concern about police approach to crime

9:40 am on 11 June 2013

There is concern in Christchurch that a prevention-first approach to crime by police is leaving red-zone houses vulnerable to burglars.

Police introduced prevention-first earlier this year to tackle crime in the city before it occurs, by targeting known crime hot spots.

But Linda Stewart of the Burwood-Pegasus Community Board said a vacant red zone property in Dallington has been repeatedly targeted by burglars and vandals. Even the spouting has gone.

She said she would like to see the police treat investigating crime with equal importance as preventing it.