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Is it any wonder?

The other day I spotted something suspicious when on my way home from the airfield.

I figured that since I was going that way, I'd call into the local police station and report my observations -- as a good citizen.

Unfortunately, it seems that the Tokoroa Police station is now unmanned and all that was available was a little speaker box with a button... which I dutifully pressed.

I was told that due to demand there was likely to be some delay in answering my request for service so I should instead go online to 105.police.govt.nz to make my report.

Since my dumbphone doesn't do internet, I continued on my journey home and figured I'd finish the job there.

As I was walking past a phone on my way in the door at home I picked it up and dialed "105", figuring it would be easier than going online and doing lots of typing.

"Due to high demand there may be a delay in responding to your call" was the response from the automated system at the other end.

WTF?

"Use 105.police.govt.nz to use our online system" I was again encouraged.

Okay, I give up. I went to my computer and called up 105.police.govt.nz. There, I opted for the something else option.

WTF AGAIN!

All I wanted to do was report some suspicious activity yet suddenly I need to provide:

• name
• date of birth
• an email address
• a contact number
• a physical address

Why the interrogation?

And there were clearly six more steps to the process after I would have entered all that data.

I'm sorry but as a member of the public who simply wanted to report a possibly suspicious situation I find this ludicrously invasive and incredibly long-winded.

Is it any wonder we're seeing crime issues when people who want to do what I was going to do have to effectively finish a triathalon of challenges simply to lend a hand and report things that don't seem quite right?

And what's the point in having a great big police station if during normal business hours, people who want to help protect the public of the safety by informing the police inside are effectively prohibited from doing so by a firewall of queues and ridiculous demands for personal information?

Now I fear even more than ever that the descent into lawlessness will continue because nobody seems to have a clue.

Carpe Diem folks!

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