Dorfpolizei

Police are drawing attention to rural crime issues at this year's Fieldays with a specially branded tractor.

Inspector Paul Carpenter said they are always looking to promote crime prevention initiatives with the rural community and innovations over the years have ranged from the country's first coloured, marked patrol car to mounted patrols and last year's quadbike crash scene.

CB Norwood Distributors got behind the latest idea and have loaned police a New Holland tractor for no cost.

Mr Carpenter said if there was any doubt the tractor would attract attention it was dispelled last week when the tractor was transported to Te Awamutu, with a constant flow of people pulling over and taking photos and asking questions.

"And that's exactly what the concept is all about, promoting the discussions - things like rural road deaths, drug activity on farms, personal safety, stock thefts and illegal hunting.

"Rural areas present unique challenges for police such as longer travelling distances, lack of cellphone and radio networks, smaller numbers of staff required to do more in depth engagement with smaller communities."

The tractor is scheduled to appear at the Northland, Central Districts, South Island Agricultural and the National Fieldays over coming months.

....die Dinger sollte man nicht unterschätzen! Wenn da der Bauerssohn wie üblich mit dem 25 to. Güllestreuer mit 70 km/h durchs Dorf rauscht, eine Hand am Telefon, die andere sonstwo, ist der nur schwer aufzuhalten - und bestimmt nicht durch herkömmliche Polizeiwagen. Da brauchts schon einen Polizeitraktor mit 25 to. Wasserwerfer um die Balance der Abschreckung zu halten!