4 June 2008 – A meeting attended by the Sangha, Chairman of the BLIA, Peter Young, and members of each sub-chapter was held on Wednesday 4 June at Fo Guang Shan Temple, North Island, New Zealand, to the raise awareness, of both local and Chinese members, to Crime Watch Patrol. National Party MP, Pansy Wong, who has a close association with the Temple and holds the volunteers in high regard, introduced Dick Marshall, Chairperson of the Botany Patrol, and Brian Rouse, Chairperson of the Flat Bush Patrol.
Crime Watch Patrol is a highly trained and organised group of people who patrol the streets, car parks and particular ‘hot-spots’ with the purpose of reporting important incidents and emergencies to the Police. Their, non-confrontational, role is to keep the community safe by raising public awareness of criminal activity in the area, educating the public and other organisations such as Neighbourhood Watch and co-operating closely with the Police.
Southeast Auckland has 5 patrol areas with a total of 200 volunteer patrollers and 8 patrol cars. Botany and Flat Bush, the areas closest to the Temple, currently have 75 volunteer patrollers and 3 cars to cover three shifts a day, seven days a week. However, to achieve their goal to increase the number of volunteer patrollers to 500 and 20 patrol cars in the next three years they need many more volunteers and this was one of the reasons for talking to the members. The commitment of joining is to be available for two, three hour shifts each month. Induction training is given, followed my more advanced instruction after a three month probation period.
The members showed considerable interest in Crime Watch Patrol and asked insightful questions. Iris was appointed as co-ordinator to liaise with the Chairpersons of the Botany and Flat Bush Patrols to arrange for them to accompanying a patrol team. The co-ordinator will report back to the members and then organise volunteer applications.
At the end of the meeting The Venerable Abbess Manshin thanked Pansy Wong and the Chairpersons of the Botany and Flat Bush Crime Watch Patrols for giving the members an opportunity to consider the important issue of crime prevention, anticipating that positive action will follow. It is important that members of the Temple work within the local community to demonstrate their compassion to every sentient being.