Following its nationwide tour of other pastures throughout the year, the Waikato Police’s rural star ‘a-tractor’ has returned to the National Fieldays at Mystery Creek.
The idea for the police branded tractor came from conversations held at the annual June event last year says Inspector Paul Carpenter.
“Police always have a presence at the June event as we seek to promote crime prevention initiatives with the rural community,” says Inspector Carpenter.
“Here in the Waikato we’ve had a number of innovations over the years from the country’s first coloured, marked patrol car to mounted patrols and last year’s quad bike crash scene.
“After that initial discussion last year, I approached representatives of the CB Norwood Distributors about the feasibility of combining a display to help promote engagement with the rural sector.
“They really got behind the idea, loaning us the New Holland tractor, and transporting it around various farming events in the North and South Island.
“The tractor is kitted out with Police decals, lights and even a siren.
“It has been a big hit with young and old, generating plenty of questions and photo opportunities.
“It’s all about promoting discussions regarding rural road deaths, drug activity on farms, personal safety, stock thefts, illegal hunting and partnerships such as the one we have with Crimestoppers and Federated Farmers with the “Shut the Gate” campaign,” says Carpenter.
“Rural areas present unique challenges for Police such as longer travelling distances, lack of cell phone and radio networks, and smaller numbers of staff are required to do more in depth engagement with smaller communities.
“Add to that, tactics that may work in large urban centres may not work that well in a rural setting, but the key thing is, Police need to know about incidents and rural residents need to feel comfortable reporting issues to us, we need to move away from the mind set of; “oh the Police are too busy, I won’t trouble them.”
Carpenter says the partners in this initiative hoped the tractor would attract widespread discussion and help the rural community prevent rural crime.
