NEWS

THE Manukau community needs to come together and be united in an ongoing response to recent violence, says acting Mayor Gary Troup.

“Our community is reeling after the three killings in just 10 days,” says Mr Troup.

“Now is the time to work together, to support each other and the police and we will come through this.

“The vast majority of our people are decent, law-abiding citizens. By and large, we’re normally a safe community, so people are shocked when events like this recent violence happen.

“We’re proud of who we are and where we live.”

Mr Troup is reassuring Manukau people its council, police and public agencies are continuing to work together to combat violence and crime.

He says examples include ambassadors in Manurewa Town Centre, funding for crime watch patrols and a forum looking at ways of reducing youth offending.

“We must have a whole-of-community, whole-of-government response to these issues. It can’t just be left to police or the council.”

Mr Troup welcomes Prime Minister Helen Clark’s call to revisit sale of liquor laws, saying it’s one of the measures that needs to happen to help Manukau.

A meeting with Mr Troup, city councillors, the Manurewa Community Board chairman, police and key government departments is scheduled for next Monday (June 23).

“I’m expecting a plan of action to come out of this meeting to support our community in the short, long and medium term,” says Mr Troup.

The community, government departments, police and the council worked together in response to youth gang-related violence in 2005.

It led to the creation of the Auckland Youth Support Network Group and a 26-point action plan implemented to improve outcomes for young people and reduce youth offending in Counties Manukau and Otahuhu. The work is ongoing.