Christchurch's newest policing initiatives - Neighbourhood Policing Teams - are now in action in Riccarton West and Phillipstown.

Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) are a new programme for New Zealand Police. The NPT philosophy is based on community policing principles, with teams working closely with other agencies and partners to jointly identify local problems and come up with local strategies and solutions.

In Christchurch, two NPTs have been established. The Phillipstown and Riccarton West areas were selected after a thorough analysis of a range of crime, demographic and community indicators.

Each team comprises a Sergeant and five Constables, who will work solely in their allocated area. The teams completed their training in December and have now started working in their respective locations.

Initially teams are making contact with agencies and organisations in their local area, to provide information about the new initiative. They are also undertaking a survey of the local community, to identify issues that people see as priorities for the NPT to address.

Issues could range from gang problems and tinnie houses through to family violence, burglaries, youth crime or other offending.