More Boots on the Ground: Police BEAT Team Coming to Eastern Bay

The new police BEAT team, dedicated to supporting retailers and increasing visibility in town centres across the Eastern Bay, will begin operating within the next 10 to 14 working days.

Whakatāne Police Senior Sergeant Cam MacKinnon said the initiative will see a small team of three to four officers, led by Acting Sergeant Dave DeLangen.

“The idea behind it is to infill into the community more regularly, be around town and the CBD and the shops.”

While based around Whakatāne, the team will operate across the wider Eastern Bay, including areas such as Ōpōtiki, Kawerau, Tāneatua and Edgecumbe, depending on demand.

“You can expect to see them in every CBD area of the Eastern Bay at times,” said Mackinnon.

“But depending on the demand picture for the area, some stores have heavier patronage and foot traffic, and they also have a higher number of offences that occur on a daily basis.”

The officers will deploy where they are most needed, responding to patterns of retail crime and community concerns.

“They’ll deploy into Whakatāne, for example, during the daytime business hours. You can expect to see them on some weekends and some afternoon shifts as well,” said Mackinnon.

“If the demand is required, they’ll head to whichever township we need to send them to.”

The BEAT team will also support smaller retailers across the region, including dairies and service stations along state highways between towns.

Mackinnon said the goal is to provide a stronger, more visible police presence that residents and shop owners can easily approach.

“People often see a lot of patrol cars driving around, but they don’t see enough of the human face of the police in town,” he said.

“You can expect to see that more. They’re there as a visible deterrent, they’re there to support the retailers, support the community, but also catch and apprehend those amongst us who are not so honest.”

Members of the public are encouraged to approach the officers while they are out in the community.

“They’re quite approachable and friendly, so feel free to say g’day,” said Mackinnon.