A Mosgiel community patrol will be launched next month in a bid to reduce crime in the area.
A meeting earlier this year attracted a group of people willing to be part of the patrols, and funding has been obtained from the Mosgiel-Taieri Community Board.
A board had been set up to govern the group, and member Bill Feather said the patrols would operate on Friday and Saturday nights, and they would target petty crime.
They would be "mobile patrols", acting as eyes and ears for the police.
They would not confront troublemakers.
About 35 people had passed the police vetting stage, and about 30 attended a police training night with Community Constable Jacqui Ballam, of Mosgiel.
About eight people had been on observation trips with North Dunedin and South Dunedin patrol groups to "learn the ways", he said.
"The group is in fine heart, and is doing very well indeed," Mr Feather said.
With the $9000 funding from the community board, the group purchased a patrol vehicle which would carry signs of the national community patrol body and sponsors.
Basic equipment, such as cellphones, fluorescent vests, first aid kits, fire extinguishers, would be bought, and traffic safety cones in the event the patrol attended a road accident, Mr Feather said.
"You have to equip the people so they are capable of doing the job."
Training would continue in the lead-up to the patrol's launch.
