This paper is designed to communicate with our retail community and key stakeholders, the Cambridge Chamber’s engagement, advocacy, and committed workstream in the crime space, given the escalating number of incidents in our town.

We know it is happening across the country, but I am confident that by working collaboratively we can best manage a growing problem.

We recently held a Meet the Mayor event where the Chamber highlighted several key workstreams needing engagement from Waipa District Council.

First on the list was Crime. Collaboration with our council increases our ability to make the difference that matters in the overall well-being of our district.

#1 Crime The Chamber is active in the crime space with advocacy and we have a duty of care to our retail community. We understand it’s not all up to councils, but the council does have a role to play and they certainly need to keep the pressure on central government to come up with a solution between central and local government, police, and the business community. We want to ask WDC to collaborate with HCC as they develop a toolbox to combat graffiti and vandalism - after all, we share offenders and it is costing over council $1k per week in vandalism. HCC is also developing broader crime strategies and we are advocating for WDC to do the same.

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=580877844040388&id=100063545321018

With two recent ram raids, a burglary and two shaken store owners dealing with pack offending, our retail community is feeling vulnerable and needs to be better supported.

The Chamber had a conversation with the Mayor around this and a visit to impacted stores will be scheduled the week commencing 28 November. It is important they be heard and have the chance to air their concerns and frustrations and together identify strategies to combat them.

Additionally, there are frustrations around communication with Police. We have scheduled a meeting post Fieldays with Police to discuss these concerns, improve communication and identify what more can be done to deter offending and protect our town.

Post-Christmas, the Chamber will co-ordinate a retail meeting with an agenda that includes the CCTV additions, investment and timeframes including the installation of additional ANPR (Automatic number plate recognition) cameras, shop owner safety and how Cambridge Safer Communities, WDC and maybe others can work together to further support the retail community.

If there are other initiatives or ideas you may have, please come and have a chat. We are all in this together. Stay safe Kelly Bouzaid