Greater Police Powers, Not Patrols, Will Deter Criminals: Wellington Trader A Wellington trader has called for increased police powers, rather than increased patrols, to deter criminals. The trader, who owns a small business in the CBD, says that while increased patrols may provide a temporary sense of security, they are ultimately ineffective in preventing crime. “Criminals are not deterred by the sight of more police officers on the streets,” the trader said. “They know that the police are stretched thin, and that they are unlikely to be caught. What we need are greater police powers to make it easier for them to apprehend and prosecute criminals.” The trader’s comments come in the wake of a recent spate of burglaries and assaults in the CBD. He says that while he has reported these incidents to the police, he has little faith that the perpetrators will be caught. “The police are doing their best, but they are hamstrung by a lack of powers,” the trader said. “We need to give them the tools they need to do their job effectively.” The trader’s call for greater police powers is likely to be met with some resistance. Some civil liberties groups argue that increased police powers could lead to abuse. However, the trader believes that the benefits of increased police powers outweigh the risks. “We need to strike a balance between protecting our civil liberties and protecting our safety,” the trader said. “I believe that greater police powers are necessary to ensure that Wellington remains a safe place to live and work.”Wellington trader Peter Higgins believes that increasing police powers would be more effective in deterring criminals than increasing patrols. Higgins, who owns a dairy in the suburb of Newtown, said he has seen a recent increase in crime in the area, including shoplifting, vandalism, and assault. He said that while he appreciates the work that police do, he believes that they need more powers to be able to effectively deter criminals. “I think the police need to be able to do more than just respond to crime,” Higgins said. “They need to be able to proactively deter crime from happening in the first place.” Higgins said that he would like to see police given the power to stop and search people without a warrant, and to detain people for questioning for longer periods of time. He also said that he believes that police should be able to use more force when necessary. “I’m not saying that the police should be able to use excessive force,” Higgins said. “But I think they need to be able to use enough force to protect themselves and the public.” Higgins said that he believes that increasing police powers would make the community safer. “I think it would send a message to criminals that they are not welcome in our community,” Higgins said. “And I think it would make people feel more safe and secure.”