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Bulletin Board Issue 16June 2010 FROM THE DESK OF ROGER EYNON
Welcome to the 16th issue of Bulletin Board. It would be an understatement to say that it's been a busy time since last I managed to put pen to paper, so to speak. As I start to put this issue together, the Board and I wait on a couple of important decisions, that, if made in our favour, will go some way to shaping the future of Neighbourhood Support New Zealand and Neighbourhood Support in general. I have for the last 12 months or so thought that we were coming to a point where the positioning of Neighbourhood Support New Zealand would be extremely important - in terms of who we work with, who we help achieve their objectives and how we truly demonstrate our capacity for delivering services direct to the community. More on this later as each point deserves its own section. We are close to the end of the financial year and although it has needed to be a prudent year, we end it in the manner in which we progressed through it - namely with a tight rein on operational costs and a good understanding of our resource requirements. This stance has enabled us to review and refresh our stocks. I'll go a little deeper into this further on in the Bulletin. I am considering changing the name of the newsletter from Bulletin Board (which I personally don't think conveys much of a message) to something a little more descriptive of our whole reason for being - suggestions anyone? For more information on Neighbourhood Support and associated events, go to our website: www.ns.org.nz You can contact me on: roger.eynon@police.govt.nz or ddi - 04 470 7022. PLEASE PASS IT ON TO YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD SUPPORT CONTACTS Current Board make-upWhen you take a look at the minutes which are diligently produced by our Secretary, Dorothy Lomas, you will notice that at the Board meetings, we are now fortunate to have representatives from councils, Police and observers who are happy to travel. This is indicative of the support that we experience at a local and national level. Although it is only the Delegates and Chair who hold a vote - the floor is open, observers can have their say and in the 10 Board meetings I have attended - we have never retreated into "committee" to discuss matters. We are open, transparent and accountable to our members and stakeholders. It has always been my belief that open governance is the best model. I am happy to say that during 2009 we were able to identify a Delegate for each of the 12 Districts and apart from the occasional apology, we average 10 Delegates at each meeting but in all, attendance at the meetings stands at around 24. Assistant Commissioner Jon White and Acting National Manager, Community Policing Group, Inspector Carey Griffiths, now have a slot set aside at each meeting for comment and frank discussion. This has proven to be a successful addition to the meetings and have provided avenues for NSNZ where none had previously existed. We insert topical presentations within the meeting framework. Presentations have been diverse and have helped to advance proposals and initiatives that Board sponsors felt were appropriate. Conversely, they have also helped the Board make difficult decisions where proposals were not supported further. Help in setting priorities has been a clear outcome. For example, at the most recent meeting, the Board were able to make considerations on a number of connected subjects (renewal of central government contract, review of realistic budget, logistical requirements for growth) that when brought together and not thought of in an isolated manner, made good sense to air as a whole. This process also allowed the group to consider how to introduce safety nets into our own set-up, thereby, ensuring that the key roles within Neighbourhood Support New Zealand Executive have some overlapping to enable flexibility within the structure. The aim is to continually move forward and be as prepared as we can be for the foreseeable issues that tend to surface now and then. Endorsements - sales related approachesThis is an interesting but difficult subject. 2010 so far has seen an increase (at my desk anyway) in approaches from companies both in New Zealand and from overseas. These approaches tend to fall into 2 categories:
As a Board, we aim to share what approaches are coming through. It's good to have agreement and a consistent approach. Our name, logo and reputation should not be freely given to bolster the profit margin of others. When dealing with approaches of this nature, it is good practice to consider the following: Blind email/cold callIn my mind, if the approach looks like trawling or phishing - then treat it as such. Lack of a clear personal touch in an email tends to smell of email harvesting and bulk emailing to any and all. Disregard and delete. However, it is a good idea to forward the email to me so we can be aware of it. A blind email that offers a website address to visit that then provides the punch of a polished approach is still a trawling exercise. I viewed an email the other day that did just this - it took me to a web page that was an attempt to inveigle its way into my thoughts. It was in English and carried costs in dollars. However, the English (grammar) was poor and it was pretty obvious that it was written for an American market (hence the $ signs) but was probably not American produced. A cursory glance at the product immediately highlighted concerns about its validity. Targeted/Personal Approach"Oh, hi there - is that Roger Eeee, er....Eye....errr....Eon?"
"That's Neighbourhood Watch - right?"
This is generally the kind of opening line I hear when I receive an unsolicited call from a hopeful promoter of a "new" service. It's never a good idea to guess at a pronunciation of a name or show that you haven't done your homework. Don't get me wrong - there are some great ideas out there but all the planets must align in order for them to be not only successful, but embraced by Neighbourhood Support. I treat introductions like this in the same way. I listen and note merits, etc. However, there needs to be substance and detail to the proposal (in the first instance). I invite an email that contains all the salient points and that helps me when passing the proposal round the Executive and Board - if it is appropriate that they get that far. In other words - I'd like to see a business case! A number of things go through my head when weighing up potential:
Clearly, there are some answers to the above that instantly indicate that the product would not be for us. I recently had a product introduced to me that was essentially SNAP (the free New Zealand Police property marking process). However, in this case, the product needed to be purchased and I assume that if the company disappeared, so would an individual's pre-paid service. We would not normally look to promote a service that already exists and is free of charge. One of the key early points that are made to me is normally to offer an inducement for Neighbourhood Support New Zealand - namely a 10% cut of all sales, or so many dollars from the sale will go to our organisation. Yes - income is important but I am not an automatic supporter of doing business in this way. The product must pass all scrutiny tests. It must fill a void and be purposeful. It must have longevity and there needs to be a re-la-tion-ship! Neighbourhood Support New Zealand does not support a get rich quick mentality - nor should it. The idea of making a fast buck from the sale of a product does not fit our holistic approach. Whilst I'm not completely writing off an income in this way, if it ever was to occur, then there would have to be some ultra watertight methodology behind it that benefited all. So far, I've yet to experience that balance. Another recent request centered on publications (one of many). This publication wished to use our name and logo. There was a subtle difference to this publication which I had concerns over. I won't go into it but I felt that it crossed a line in a way that Neighbourhood Support New Zealand and Neighbourhood Support simply could not support. A request that I responded to the day before starting this issue, was different. It was a response to a really good community based service. The use of our name and logo were desired to increase community acceptance. Under ordinary circumstances, I would have looked more to support than not but the service involved marking exterior property. There was a clear need to weigh up liability and the potential for legal challenge should something go wrong. Ultimately, that is what stopped the relationship from progressing and also the fact that we were not involved when important council level discussions were being held. Reputation is everything. Neighbourhood Support New Zealand and Neighbourhood Support have a good one. Choosing partners in sales is a very difficult thing to do and homework needs to be done by both sides. Curiosity is our right. Refusal or unwillingness to provide good, clear information - fit for purpose - should be a warning sign. If in doubt - ask again or walk away. Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice - renewal of contractsThe current Neighbourhood Support New Zealand contract and other Neighbourhood Support contracts around the country will come to an end 30th June 2010. Whilst it was true to say that it is actually the end of the contract - it is also true to say that a new but different contract may well provide the continuation of funding. Whilst I accept that this is not a guarantee, it has been comforting to know that NS in general is in the mix. In some circumstances I have spoken to Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CPCJ) and then conveyed to local areas that the contract expiry did not necessarily mean the end. Full explanations somehow did not seem to reach those most affected by these deadlines. Neighbourhood Support funding was deemed "Budget Secret" which meant that although we are a drop in the ocean when talking about central government funds for crime prevention, we were tied up within the whole budget machine. Whilst not a problem in itself, it did mean that we have had to adopt a semi-holding pattern when it comes to planning and expenditure. There may well be new objectives, new partners and new accountabilities. Clearly it's not a good idea, when our budget is yet to be agreed, to shell out X amount on signs, stickers and other such resources, making an assumption that what went before will still be fit for purpose. We have to be mindful to incorporate or consider other opportunities within everything we do. Work is being done to review how we produce and distribute stickers - sounds a bit over the top, eh? However, I have identified opportunities in this area and hope to have an overall product that fits the purpose, is easy to control/order/distribute and also carries some other stronger messages with potential partner input. Our budget for resources was exhausted about a month ago. Not bad going as it was half the amount of the previous year. Indications are that we will have to continue to be careful in this area but we are looking at options as to how we increase the budget. So where are we up to now?The Budget has been announced and we were advised by CPCJ the following day that the appropriation for Crime Prevention and Community Safety Programmes had been reconfirmed and they would shortly advise the priorities for this funding. They have a massive amount of work to do in a short period of time. A Budget in late May with an eye on contract expiry some 5 weeks later has caused a considerable amount of discomfort to Neighbourhood Support across the country and I will be urging advocates in government to consider, in the future, how this impacts upon communities. It is a fair suggestion given the amount of voluntary hours that go into Neighbourhood Support to make it work. National Diversion ApplicationWhat is Diversion?Diversion is a scheme that allows for some offenders who have been charged to be dealt with in an ‘out of Court’ way. If the offender completes agreed conditions, the Prosecutor can seek to have the charge withdrawn and a conviction will not be recorded. The purposes of diversion are to:
The Police Prosecution Service is responsible for the Police Diversion Policy as well as administering and operating the diversion scheme. (Source - New Zealand Police website.) BackgroundIn 2009 Neighbourhood Support made 14 applications under this process. Only 6 were accepted and only one of those was as a District. Therefore at least 30 Areas did not apply at all and the end result was that nearly 40 Areas did not feature as a recipient of Diversion Donation funds. Acceptable - or not good enough? It's certainly fine for those who benefited but what about the picture overall? At the Board meeting in February, I proposed that we submit one united national application and basically have a consistent approach to how we do this better. There was no information available as to why the 8 applications were actually rejected in 2009, nor why other Areas were unable to apply. Equally, I had no examples of the 14 submissions from last year available to me. RationaleThe Board had agreed that a national response was required. My own view is that a line had to be drawn in the sand and that whether or not we were successful on this occasion, it would offer opportunities to try something different and review the end result. Basically, this is where we now are. The application was drafted, proofed and submitted before the deadline and the closing date has been and gone. I expect a decision before the end of June. No guarantees and no promises. However, it is evident to me that where Neighbourhood Support is working well, the District Commander should be aware and should support. Clear reasons should then be provided if they chose not to support local Neighbourhood Support. This would give us the information we need to ensure that the decision the following year would be a positive one. I have also drafted a short policy on how Neighbourhood Support New Zealand intends to manage the donations so that 100% gets to where it is supposed to go. FootnoteThere were examples of Neighbourhood Support Areas still wishing to submit their own applications. That was not a surprise to me and is understandable. However, I was advised that this stance appears to have been supported at local Police level which complicated matters.
Any queries regarding this decision should be directed to the office of the National Manager. Equally, the decision was clearly indicated within the minutes from the February Board meeting. The details were available for all to view, consider and were provided with ample time for further discussion. Neighbourhood Support New Zealand - BrandingName and logo - terms of useAt the May Board meeting, the Board agreed that the time has come to cease any and all customising of the Neighbourhood Support New Zealand name and logo.
We are all well aware that this custom is pretty well embedded but it's time to have consistency. It will be acceptable to use the national logo (roundel) and place the name of the Area or District below the words "New Zealand" but outside of the border of the roundel. Colours and font must be adhered to. I will ensure that these are available upon request. We are not imposing total change from now, but managing a phasing out of the customary practice of changing the logo etc. From now on, there cannot be any amendment to the roundel. It must be used in the correct way. Those Districts and Areas who have already done so are advised that new resources etc will be required to carry the roundel in the correct manner. Neighbourhood Support New Zealand recognises that the phasing out will take some time, but a national identity should be just that. The masthead for letters can carry customisation and it is appropriate to do so. I am currently working at identifying the colours, font and type face of the masthead - to make available in the same way the roundel details will be. So, no need to throw away existing stocks or incur needless expense to replace perfectly good signs and stickers. However, in 2 years' time, it would be good to see that the national identity is progressing and that provincial identity runs alongside our evolvement. ResourcesFor anyone familiar with "Jaws" - there's a scene in the film during which Chief Brody has been throwing "chum" out into the sea to lure the shark. He turns away, murmuring under his breath, whilst nonchalantly continuing to ladle it out. When he looks back, the shark is rearing up to taste a bit of him. He stands upright, colour draining from his face and slowly backtracks to his two companions and sombrely states - "You're going to need a bigger boat...." This is kind of where we are. A realistic resource budget is one of my key requests as part of negotiations over a new Justice contract. Our "bigger boat" is said realistic budget. Our resources go to everyone from Councils, to Police, to members, to Coordinators and so on. The supply of resource does not come cheap. Making the current resource budget fit our requirements has been quite a balancing act and as soon as we get confirmation on national funding, this will be a priority area to address current stocks and new resources. Here is a current update:
All fact-sheets are in stock - except:
Kiwi Kop has one remaining sticker:
Plastic bags will be in stock soon and I will send out an email as soon as they are available. New on-line only fact-sheets via: www.ns.org.nz: Orders are normally placed via your local Police administration person. Orders take approx 1 calendar week and if it is 2 weeks or more since you placed your order - there is a problem. If you think your order is taking too long, check with the input/order person, obtain the order number and if there is still an issue, provide me with the date it was ordered, the items, address and reference number for the order. I will then take further. St Johns Sunflower MonthOverall and from the reports that I have received, this was an extremely worthwhile event to be involved in. I have spoken to our Delegates and they have confirmed that it is something that Neighbourhood Support New Zealand absolutely must continue to be involved in. We are pulling together a brief report on the experience and hope to table this at the next meeting. It is good practice to document the outcomes and review how we did things at the time. It provides a legacy and gives us an opportunity to evaluate our involvement and reflect on what could be done differently next time. Bunnings Warehouse -Community Fun DaysIn the same way we are collating a report on Sunflower Month, we have done so for the involvement with Bunnings. Early reports have indicated that it was a positive experience overall but that there were some areas that could be better developed. Barry Hyde, Delegate for Auckland City, has collated feedback and we have sent a letter of appreciation to the General Manager of Bunnings to thank him for the opportunity to take part and to reaffirm our commitment to future activities with them. Newsletter - suggestions for new nameI have a few in mind:
Drop me a line with preferences or suggestions. I'd like to have this in place for the next issue. My only request is that the title is short (ish), reflects the nature of Neighbourhood Support, a community focus and the face to face approach that we prefer. Essentially, the current name "Board Bulletin" is a little passé. The Board get appropriate reports directly from me and it's not really a bulletin. I prefer the focus to be on the wider audience and should be a sharing of national objectives, progress and positioning for the future - straight from the "Horse's Mouth!" Hmmmm - that sounds good! Is there a prize (I hear you say!)? - Yes - there is! I'll put up $100 to go to the NS group of your choice should you:
* Vote for the successful title (from my list of examples - and I shall then draw from those who voted for the most popular title) Simply email me or call me (details on first page) with your suggestion or choice - leaving name, location and phone number so I can get back to you. ScamsI regularly get emails relating to new, old or even non-existent scams. It's good that these are sent to me as it demonstrates that Neighbourhood Support recognises that we are all a cog in a bigger machine. However, what happens next? Approximately 3000 scams are reported a year. Fraud Awareness - Department of Consumer AffairsIn March of this year, the Department of Consumer Affairs held its Fraud Awareness Week (1st - 7th March). It was a concerted and well supported highlighting of an accepted problem. Apparently 15% of New Zealanders have been scammed or tricked out of money. Those who are victims represent every side of society - professional, student, immigrant etc. There is no "type". All walks of society are susceptible. A Scam consists of 3 elements:
The Hook may be believable (too good to be true?) but caution should be taken when cash or payment is requested. Time to pull the plug. The Sting is when you have parted with your cash or possession. It may be too late to retrieve the situation but be aware of: http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/ Go to this website and choose SCAMwatch as your option. There's lots of information and instruction on how to report a Scam. Case studies, agency contacts and tips for protection are all there and whilst I appreciate Neighbourhood Support people feel they may be well aware of risks - others aren't. It's good to have information to hand. http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/scamwatch/protect-yourself/ When reported in the right way, bogus websites, for example, can be taken down as quickly as within 11 minutes. Common Types of ScamRental market Scams seem to be fashionable at the moment. Half of the victims of this Scam are of Asian descent or origin. Other common Scams involve:
http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/scamwatch/protect-yourself/no-the-scams/ There are variations on the Up Front Money Scam but essentially it means you part with your money before having an equal chance of receiving the goods. An overpaid advance payment to the victim that relies on a refund of reliable funds is the flip-side of this technique. It's interesting how judgement can be swayed by the chance of a bargain or the deal of a lifetime. International Payments (wired payments)Western Union recognise the problem. Their representatives are trained to ask whether the payment is in response to an internet sale or if the beneficiary is personally known to the sender. They will then discuss the risks if the former is the answer. It is useful to know that some scammers will suggest that if you answer the latter, then the cost for sending the payment is up to 3% cheaper. This, of course, is not true but is another cost related inducement to execute the Sting. If it sounds too good to be true - then it usually is. Vetting and security clearanceI felt that this subject is certainly worth a mention for a number of reasons, but first things first. There is a Police form that is utilised for this process; POL 1128. It should not be amended or re-titled. Street contacts are not to be vetted. That person is chosen by the community but equally does not come into contact with information that is not already within the public domain. However, from Area Coordinator level upwards, there is a necessity for individuals to be checked to an accepted level. Paid or unpaid, the following should complete the above form for security clearance:
Form POL 1128 is currently being reviewed to make this matter clear and will shortly be available for use. The revised copy will bear the review date of 05/10. Next Board Meeting & AGM 2010Two days have been booked At Police College in Porirua - 28th and 29th September 2010. The AGM will take place on 29th from 1.00pm to 3.00pm. Please take this as public notice of the AGM. Heoi anō Roger |
