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Off-duty ambo helps in emergency birth
By JO McKENZIE-McLEAN – Thursday, 11 December 2008
A Christchurch woman received two very special early Christmas presents after she helped a woman in labour on the side of a busy road.
Volunteer ambulance officer Kaira Forbes, 27, and her partner, John Smith, were travelling along Main North Road last Thursday when a car sped past. The car's driver was sounding the horn and flashing hazard lights. My other half wound down the window and asked if everything was OK, and the man said, 'my wife is having a baby'.
"I knew something wasn't right and managed to catch up with them after roadworks held them up. "I thought, 'oh my God I've never delivered a baby before'."
Forbes explained that she was an ambulance officer and the two cars pulled over outside St Bede's College. I didn't tell them that though."
Forbes rang the St John Ambulance communication centre and got the expectant mother ready for delivery in the back seat of their car. She was in major labour pains and the contractions were three minutes apart. They asked if her waters had broken and I said 'no', then she screamed out, 'yes they bloody have'.
"South comms asked if I had ever delivered a baby before and I said, 'hell no'."
With the contractions one minute apart, two ambulances arrived. . Forbes said that while en route to St George's Hospital, the baby was delivered on Papanui Road outside KFC. Forbes said that while en route to St George's Hospital, the baby was delivered on Papanui Road outside KFC. I am not one to expect gifts I do that sort of stuff because I care.
"I was blown away with the voucher."
If you know the family contact Press reporters (03) 943 2827. I would be happy just to meet the mother and baby.
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New information in double abduction attempt case
– Friday, 14 November 2008
Police have released a more comprehensive description of a man who attempted to abduct two girls in Grey Lynn last Sunday.
Communications manager Noreen Hegarty said the new information has been gathered with thanks to the assistance of the public.
The first incident about midday last Sunday involved a 13-year-old girl who was approached by the offender while walking her dog near Richmond Rd School. She struggled and screamed, attracting the attention of nearby people who came to her aid. He grabbed her from behind, threatened her and tried to force her to walk away with him.
Shortly after, a 10-year-old girl was grabbed on Cockburn St by a man who also threatened her.
The attacker fled down Richmond Rd into Cockburn St. She managed to break free and run away.
Police have described the offender as Maori or Pacific Islander, medium to solid build, with wavy or bushy medium length dark hair and possible facial hair.
The offender was last seen running along Farrar St towards Grey Lynn Park.
He was wearing a brown zip-up jacket with white stripes down each arm, possibly with a hood attached, dark trousers and white shoes. They believe he is about six foot tall and in his late teens to mid twenties.
"Someone may have seen him running through Grey Lynn Park following the attacks," she said
Anyone with information can contact the Avondale Criminal Investigation Branch on 820-5700 or 820-5782. .
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Police push to register prepaid cellphones
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
The number could be up for criminals who hide behind the anonymity of prepaid cellphones.
Police are calling for all prepaid customers to be registered on a national database, to stop pay-and-go phones being used by criminals – who believe there is no way to trace the user and know the phones can be disposed of easily.
Detective Senior Sergeant Darrin Thomson, from the Wellington metro crime unit, told The that prepaid cellphones provided a "significant challenge" for police investigating high-profile serious crimes and crime groups.
Phones are available over the counter in New Zealand without buyers having to identify themselves or give traceable credit card details."
Mr Thomson said adopting a system similar to Australia's – where all phone buyers would have to present a passport or other official form of identification at the point of purchase – would help catch criminals.
"The use of prepaid cellular phones is a common use amongst the criminal fraternity, particularly at the higher level, and anything that would help us thwart that anonymity would be fabulous."
The call for change comes as officials in Britain plan to extend the powers of state surveillance by ensuring everyone who buys a mobile registers their identity on a national database.
"We've got a point of contact straight away, which is a really, really good thing.
Vodafone has a customer base of more than two million accounts, of which about 70 per cent are prepaid.
Vodafone spokesperson Paul Brislen said it would support a government-mandated industry-wide scheme to introduce a compulsory register of prepaid phones in New Zealand.1 million mobile customers, about 60 percent prepaid. .
Mr Thomson said police were continually liaising with the Justice Ministry and telecommunications companies to enhance the ability to fight crime. Spokeswoman Rebecca Earl said the company was open to discussions about a register.
He envisaged the register would be available for telecommunications companies who have people misuse their product, or for police investigating crimes. Creating a register for prepaids would be "no different" to a White Pages or Yellow Pages service. People who are going about their lawful business, which is a great majority of the community, have got nothing to worry about.
"I certainly don't think that this is a system to be implemented that would be abused – it's no different from you and I having a landline.
She said the commission would expect to be involved in early talks on any such proposal."
A Privacy Commission spokeswoman said the commission would follow developments in Britain with interest, but questioned whether the "extensive collection of cellphone user information" would achieve the aims sought.
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Parents urged to stop calling, texting kids in class
– Monday, 15 September 2008
Parents who cannot leave their children alone are being urged to stop ringing and text messaging students in class.
Cellphones that were seen or heard in class would be confiscated, Avonside Girls High School parents were told in a newsletter this month.
Principal Theresa Shaughnessy was reluctant to talk about the issue and, despite the note to parents, said she was not aware of a problem.
"Please DO NOT phone or text your daughter during class time," the newsletter said.
"I'd just like to think that they would think before they text during the course of the school day.
Riccarton High School principal Phil Holstein urged parents to contact the school through traditional methods. She would only text or phone her daughter at lunchtime."
New Zealand Parent Teacher Association president Amanda Meldon said cellphones were a good way to stay in touch with children, but they had to be used by parents responsibly. This is what we all did in the days before cellphones.
"If anything was that urgent, I would have rung school and said, `can you go and get my daughter out of class'.
"Does your child need to know that you need bread on the way home? It's a fine line."