Become an online friend of police

Senior Constable Sean Drader, the senior intelligence analyst with Queenstown Police, gives the Queenstown Times an update on new tools to combat crime.

Last week, we made an arrest at Remarkables Park after a car chase in Shotover St the previous day.

The alleged driver will be facing charges from around the South Island and has been previously convicted in Queenstown on several occasions.

Prior to the arrest, I emailed several backpacker hostels, but about a dozen emails bounced back with out-of date addresses.

A more effective way of receiving communications is to become a fan of our Queenstown Police Facebook page, where pictures of the criminal were posted to warn Queenstown residents, and help flush him out.

About 2000 people have become fans now, and we've had many people arrested after being identified through this method.

I'd like to see more local businesses become fans as they're the ones likely to be stung by criminals such as shoplifters, burglars and fraudsters, and are likely to be in the best place to recognise offenders.

That's another benefit of living in a small town - we all travel in similar routes.

Have a look today at http://www.facebook.com/QueenstownPolice and you'll see the faces of people we want to identify, and others wanted on warrants. It's also the best way to display moving footage from CCTV cameras.

Facebook is also a great way of communicating with the police.

We often don't hear about problems until they become extreme.

You don't need to suffer in silence. It may be that other people are putting up with the same issue.

Winter is on the horizon, and my advice to employers and landlords is to check potential problem applicants using this thorough method.

It is free for your applicant to check their criminal history and have it sent straight to you.

You may download the form http://www.justice.govt.nz/services/get-a-copy-of-your-criminal-record/d....

It takes up to 20 days for the result and it won't return an applicant's crimes committed more than seven years ago, overseas offences, or police diversions, but it should help to weed out the fraudsters who skip town without paying rent, or those who steal from their employers.

This way you can make an informed decision about whether convictions are minor or not, and whether you will be affected, and hopefully you can have a happy winter.