Jake Faafua - Noise Control Officer
How long have you been a Noise Control Officer?
I have been a Noise Control Officer for 16 years. I started noise control in 1994.
What personality traits are considered essential to be a good Noise Control Officer?
Noise Control Officers need to be fair but firm. We are impartial at all times. We are only there for the noise that is emitting from the address in question. Noise Control Officers need to have basic people skills (being friendly, sense of humour) as this breaks the ice with noise offenders most times. We need to read body language quickly as situations can heighten to a point of danger for the NCO. You have got to have heart in this job as some addresses we go to are not ideal or even safe however we still have our job to do. We do have procedures for the problem addresses we attend.
What does a typical shift involve for you?
Mostly loud or excessive parties on the weekends. During week days it can vary from road works to band practices.
What time of year/nights are the busiest for you?
The busiest times are between 2200 and 0300 in the morning. During the summer.
You must have seen some interesting things in your years as an officer; what situations stand out as the most interesting/memorable?
It’s interesting walking down driveways for a noise complaint for loud voices thinking it will be a domestic complaint and finding it’s bedroom noise if you know what I mean. This happens now and then, you can't but smile when you walk away from these types of noise jobs.
Once you receive a complaint, what process does this complaint follow?
If the noise is excessive an NCO would issue the END (Excessive Noise Direction). If there are further complaints and the noise is still excessive a seizure will be in effect. If the Police are unable to attend an NCO will serve a Non Compliance notice. If there are further complaints the process is as follows due to the priorities of the Police. If no Police can attend then Non Compliance notices will keep being served until either the party finishes or Police are able to attend to assist in a seizure.
Does this process vary dependent on whether the complaint is issued against private or commercial premises?
For NCOs the only difference in process with commercial premises (if you are talking about licensed premises) is for the END to be served the NCO should assess the noise from the caller’s address.
How do you deal with aggressive personalities/ threats of violence?
If NCOs are confronted by threats or violence there are basic precautions the NCO would take. For example, if the noise was coming from an address in a cul-de-sac you would make sure before you park the vehicle is facing back out towards the main road. When the NCO enters the property we would look for a contingency plan escape and evade. There are usually two exit points, usually the driveway and the gate. Not all addresses have a driveway and gate sometimes it's only a driveway. If the noise offenders are getting aggressive towards you there is an urgency to pick up on this real quick because it usually only takes one to start it then the rest will follow and surround you so you must leave as quickly as possible. Then Police are informed and briefed as to what has happened, depending what has happened. If there is an assault we go in with the Police to find out who is living at the address and exactly what conspired earlier on.
What was it like having the film crew along with you? Did this affect the behaviour of offenders?
Yes some people want to keep their anonymity, others want their 15 minutes of fame!
Jake Faafua is a Noise Control Officer. You can see him on Noise Control - Mondays, 7.30pm
Become a fan of TV3 on Facebook
,
on Twitter .