Safety House program in danger

The Safety House program on the Peninsula is in danger of becoming discontinued, according to publicity officer Ms Michelle Te Puia.

"This vital program is currently in danger of being discontinued due to lack of volunteers," Ms Te Puia said.

"Community members can volunteer to be a part of this program, either as a safety household, safety business, a safety house monitor or a committee member.

"To be involved with the Safety Houses, we are only asking for a few hours of your time every three months.

"Our children are our future and it is them that we want to keep safe within our community.

"We all want our children, indeed the entire community, to be part of a caring community and an active Safety House program helps to ensure and reinforce this objective."

The Safety House program is a joint community and police initiative that aims to provide a network of safe places within the community, especially for children.

The program has been operating on the Peninsula for more than 17 years, with its boundaries extending to Phegans Bay, Bensville and Patonga.

The program works by identifying householders and workplaces, through Police checks and interviews.

Houses are then provided with distinctive yellow letterbox plaques to identify the houses to children.

Each house is monitored twice a year to ensure that everyone over 10 years of age is checked by the Police to make sure that all Safety Houses are a safe place for children to call upon if required.

Public Schools on the Peninsula hold "Yellow Days" in which police teach children how to seek protection in a Safety House should they feel threatened or lost.

For further information or to become part of the Program, contact 4342 3266 or 4341 1347.

Press release, March 19 Michelle Te Puia, Safety House Program