Constable D. Barich spoke of the vulnerabilities of rural residences and the methods by which security can be enhanced. He described the functioning of a Rural Crime Watch programme. Rural Crime Watch is comprised of timely bi-directional communication: from the community to the police regarding unusual activity and conversely from the police to the community regarding instances of criminal or unusual activity. Rural Crime Watch requires the establishment of a communication system: the archaic person-to-person calling tree or the technologically current automatic message system, and/or email notification. The Rural Crime Watch programme requires the desire and the support of the community and has financial costs associated with it.
Following a lengthy discussion, members resolved that SMCA would provide leadership in this matter on the short term. SMCA will, through survey and petition methods, attempt to determine the interest in the community for the establishment of a Rural Crime Watch programme. SMCA will also request that the RM government, through a resolution of council, provide support to the programme, if established, as a service to benefit all resident ratepayers.
To get the ball rolling we are asking the readers of this website to please email smca159@aol.com a brief note of support (or opposition) attention Jacquie who has volunteered to collect this information.
The meeting continued with a further resolution that SMCA, on behalf of its members, request that the Annual Ratepayers Meeting be reinstated. No ratepayer meeting has been held since April 2004. We believe these meetings are an important part of government accountability and are a useful opportunity for two-way communication.
Following the meeting the members enjoyed a brief period of socialization with refreshments.
