Retailers see impact of more officers on patrol in Auckland CBD

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Fifty-one officers are now assigned to patrol duties in the Auckland CBD. (File pic)
Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi

Businesses in the Auckland city centre say more police foot patrols are already starting to make a difference in their desperate battle against retail crime and disorder.

Twenty-one new beat police were on the ground on Monday, bringing the total number now patrolling the city’s CBD to 51.

Business owners who have so often fallen victim to crime in recent years said they were already feeling safer.

On Fort Street, where two people were shot last year, Roland Sugumaran of Vape King, said he has noticed a change.

“Used to be lots more trouble,” he said.

“But recently, we see a lot of decrease, decrease in crimes, crime rates, and also the streeties are just decreasing.”

Sugumaran said he trusted authorities to direct resources where they most needed to be.

“I believe the police and the security, they know what is going on in the city,” he said.

“They know which area needs more coverage…

“I believe Queen Street needs more overlook, but Fort Street is doing really good at the moment.”

The new foot patrols were announced last month, the start of a staged two-year rollout which will ultimately see 63 additional staff deployed to community beat teams across Auckland’s three policing districts, with an additional 17 in Wellington and 10 in Christchurch.

At Sail City Mart just off Queen Street, owner Willy Pu said having extra police around made him feel safer, but he wanted to see it go even further.

He wanted to see more frequent patrols as well as an increase in officers.

He would also like to see police paid more.

“I think they should have more salary because their job is very important,” Pu said.

“Important, and [dangerous], and very complex.”

The government won a long-running pay dispute with the police union on Monday.

The pay increase awarded was far less than what the union wanted, but included a $1500 lump sum payment and a flat $5000 pay increase, plus another four percent increase this month, and again in 2025.

Back on Queen Street, Ivan Chen from phone repair store Funtech, said the area had improved from how it used to be.

“It used to be pretty bad, people misbehaving on the street, often fighting each other,” he said.

“You can see people yelling and doing crazy stuff like destroying public facilities, and you can smell a weird smell like they’re smoking something.”

For those like Chen working in the CBD, more police meant more safety.

“It will be much safer,” he said.

“The environment on the street has been changed, there is a big difference.”