A year ago, Rotorua Lakes Council announced it was working with police to open a community safety hub in the city center following a public after-school attack on a teenage girl near a CBD bus stop. It is now beginning to extend its community safety measures to the suburbs. Local democracy reporter Laura Smith spoke to Mayor Tania Tapsell and senior councilor Jean-Paul Gaston to find out more.
Crime-busting initiatives that have helped reduce violence in Rotorua's CBD by around 40 per cent in one year will soon be rolled out to more suburbs, including an expanded network of CCTV cameras and mobile security patrols.
The city center crackdown by Rotorua Lakes Council and police began last year after a series of attacks on students near CBD bus stops.
In addition to the opening of the Inner City Community Safety Hub, resources are being put into CCTV, contracted foot patrols will be replaced with vehicle-based security, the number of Safe City Guardians will be increased, and the police will have a second CBD-based We hired community constables.
There was also a focus on maintenance, including updating CBD bins and getting street lights up and running.
Destination Development Group Manager Jean-Paul Gaston shared plans to advance the initiative at Wednesday's Community and Neighborhood Development Committee meeting.
He said there was a view that community safety was not part of the council's core business.
“But it's true.”
He said the success of the strategy was thanks to partnerships with police, Māori wardens, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, retailers and community groups.
The council will continue to focus on the CBD, but will expand the area to the mainly residential suburb of Glenholm and south to Fenton Park. No firm date has been set for the second phase, but it could be as early as November 1.
The city is considering using $100,000 a year in expansion costs and $65,000 in upgrades allocated in the long-term plan to build a CCTV network in the suburbs and develop a camera strategy with police.
Community safety was taken into consideration when enacting ordinances on issues such as dog control and alcohol harm.
Director of Community Safety and Regulatory Services Mihikore Owen said they would maintain a “high level of care approach”.
“A city center that is clean, safe and has little to no illegal activity sends the message that this place is regularly monitored and criminal activity will not be tolerated.”
Staff were moving the rough sleepers and connecting them with social services, while the council dealt with graffiti.
Gaston said the recent increase in graffiti reports is due to staff recording the incidents they respond to.
The “graded response model” continues to be used. Parents, security guards and Māori wardens first educated and encouraged people to avoid undesirable behavior, and if that failed, it was escalated to police for enforcement.
Councilor Rawiri Walu pointed out that trespass reports have increased by 6% in the past four months compared to a year ago.
Owen said this is a good example.
“If trespassers are identified, we will hold (them) accountable.”
Over the same period, violent crime fell by 38%, fraud by 28%, property damage by 33%, and drug and anti-social crimes by 4.8%.
Mayor: “Excited to take the next step''
Rotorua Regional Commander Harvey Gawika (left) and Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell cut the ribbon at the new Rotorua Inner City Community Safety Hub. Photo/Provided
Local Democracy Reporting interviewed Gaston and Mayor Tania Tapsell about the plan.
Tapsell said community safety has been focused on inner-city areas because of social issues that communities and businesses are experiencing.
“We are excited to take the next step and ensure Rotorua is a safer place for everyone.”
Tapsell said when the City Council prioritized community safety, there were social issues related to emergency housing motels that needed a quick fix, but there was always a desire to “make sure we didn't leave neighborhoods behind.” said.
Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell at the October meeting. Photo/Laura Smith
Worked with police to target violence and property damage and tracked progress.
She said the creation of a second community constable was a “huge victory”, as was the gift of CCTV cameras from the New Zealand Transport Agency, which the council had feared would not be available.
She said the bus stop attack left a young man injured in a supposedly safe public place and devastated the community.
“The council, police and security have all worked together to ensure that the bus stops used by all school children are safe, so they are there every day at drop-off time. I see something.”
Mr Gaston pointed to continued support from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council regarding the safety of bus stops and routes.
He said the library area where the attack occurred had improved but continued monitoring was needed.
Mr Tapsell said the suburban cameras would focus on public spaces. Privacy is important to the community and the cameras will only be used to prevent crime and catch those responsible, she said.
“We have achieved great results as a result, catching people within 24 hours of committing ram attacks and property thefts, which would not have been possible without the cameras.”
She said local businesses and dairy operators support its use.
Gaston encouraged people to submit requests for service so council knows where to put maintenance resources.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
