‘Anywhere, anytime’ approach to policing

A recently established Central Lakes police team is taking the "anywhere, anytime slogan" literally.

Otago Lakes area road policing manager Sergeant Glenn Wilkinson said the impairment prevention team, led by him and including six Queenstown-based constables, had been running across Central Otago and the Queenstown Lakes district since November.

The team’s primary focus was on the four major factors in serious and fatal crashes — restraints, impairment, distraction and speed, dubbed RIDS.

Sgt Wilkinson said the traditional "booze bus" squads disappeared following a restructure in 2016.

The impairment prevention team had now taken on that role, but had expanded its focus to include other areas such as fatigue stops.

At the beginning of this month a checkpoint/fatigue stop was set up in Tarras in conjunction with the Alexandra Lions Club, which ran a free sausage sizzle.

Sgt Wilkinson said 800 drivers were tested for alcohol and one person was issued with an infringement notice for being over the legal limit of 250mcg.

Since January the team had conducted more than 7000 breath tests, resulting in more than 30 people being charged with drink-driving. At a recent checkpoint in Queenstown 150 drivers were stopped.

During the school holidays and with the long-awaited arrival of Australian tourists, there would be a greater police presence on the roads, Sgt Wilkinson said.

"We say ‘anywhere, anytime’ and that’s what we’ve got a [mandate] to do."