Latest news with #CPTED
NZ Herald
27-04-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
86,787 reasons to keep Napier Library open: Mary Anne Eyles
Between February 2024 and February 2025, 86,787 people entered the library. That's 238 people a day, most of who will miss out or disconnect if the library closes, despite the city council considering trialling click and collect or making the mobile van more available. Taradale is too far away for too many people. Library staff issued 29,122 books and users self-issued 60,241. That's 89,363 reasons (244 a day) to keep the library open until the new library is ready. Here are some more: internet use totalled 136,829 sessions by library users. Seventy-five events, such as baby bounce and story time, were held involving 913 children and 668 adults. (These figures were provided through a LGOIMA request to the city council and pertain only to Napier Library). For the council to decide, after all this time, that the MTG site is not the right building or location from a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) perspective is a bit rich after moving there in 2017. That security has become an issue with an increase in antisocial behaviour requiring security guards to be employed is not new. Security guards were needed at the Station St site pre-2017. Security and its extra costs are incurred at many facilities and businesses in our city. This issue is not the fault of the library, it is a wider concern for the city council, social services and police. To imply this is a factor in the proposed closure is scaremongering. The city council should make a more concerted effort to stop the antisocial behaviour rather than punish the library staff and users. Will plans be in place to ensure this doesn't become an issue again at the new site? The annual plan consultation document states on page 20, 'an extra benefit of the earlier interim closure is this will give us more time for moving to the new library'. But the new library won't be ready for at least two years. How much time is actually needed? Will there be sufficient qualified librarians left to do the job? Word has it that some staff have left already. In the same document (page 22), under 'Update on Napier's new library', the following is written: 'Modern libraries complement and fill gaps that online information sources can't provide.' And '… it will support the educational, cultural and creative life of our community." Does this not happen now in our present library? Of course it does. There are many more reasons to keep the library open for the benefit of Napier city. The other council facilities in the firing line all have a tourist component and generate income. It is interesting to note the MTG, with free entry, does not even feature in any of these proposals and it is totally funded by ratepayers, just like the library. It is significant the library is the only facility in these proposals that is solely for Napier ratepayers. These vital functions and connections must remain for our Napier community until the scheduled move to the new space begins. And when that happens, we need our qualified staff on hand to make this transition. It is unbelievable that the city council considers a saving of $600,000 outweighs the immense contributions and benefits our library provides to the welfare of our Napier ratepayers.
CBC
15-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
North Battleford announces increased patrols for downtown
The City of North Battleford is launching a multi-agency approach to address concerns about safety. The plan will include a patrol team of social agencies, community safety officers and RCMP members who will be dedicated to the city's downtown. Mayor Kelli Hawtin said the increased patrols will be focused on ensuring that everyone using the downtown area can function well together. "This isn't a project of just policing, which is one of the only tools a municipality has, but this is a project of connecting people to services that they may be needing in times of crisis or other times in their life," Hawtin said. The patrol team will be focused on connecting people who may be struggling with addiction and health issues in the area to the appropriate services. Hawtin said people in the downtown area are accessing services for a variety of different reasons that may cause safety issues. "We have people shopping and seeking entertainment in downtown areas; we have people accessing, you know, things like accountants, lawyers, banks — but we also have people that are accessing important social services," Hawtin said. The city is working to connect with health professionals and cultural community leaders to accompany police officers on foot patrols. Ryan How, detachment commander for the Battlefords RCMP, said complex solutions are needed, rather than just increased policing. "I think everybody's very aware that arresting and charging is not going to be the solution to this," said How. He said he hopes to increase safety for everyone in the area. "The goal here is to make the downtown a healthier place to be, a safer place to be for the community and make sure that the people who need help are getting access to it," he said. The new patrol team will also be using the crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) model to enhance safety for local business owners. The model is based on the theory that "the proper design and effective use of the built environment can lead to a reduction in the incidence and fear of crime, and an improvement in the quality of life," according to non-profit organization CPTED Canada.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
Springfield police to hold neighborhood watch training event
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — The Springfield Police Department (SPD) is hosting a neighborhood watch training event for anyone interested. The free event will take place on Mar. 25, from 5:30-9 p.m., located at 216 W. Central Street. You can reserve a seat by completing an online registration form. SPD says the training is geared toward existing Neighborhood Watch groups, neighborhood associations and those wishing to establish a program. Training topics include an overview of the Springfield Police Department, reporting and observation, Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), Neighborhood Watch program information, and more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
