New patrols to beef up CBD security

Rotorua District Council is about to begin recruiting staff for its Rotorua CBD Patrols Project. The project will boost security and public safety in the city centre.

The council's Corporate and Customer Services Committee has approved $100,000 towards CBD Patrols for the 2011/12 year, which will start in December and run until at least June 2012.

RDC community safety projects officer Amy Duckett said that she was pleased that the council had given the green light to increased patrols in the CBD as it was an issue of some concern to Rotorua residents.

“Our 2011 Perceptions of Safety Survey highlighted that there had been a decrease in how safe people felt in the CBD during the daytime, so we are keen to address that with some urgency before it gets any worse.”

During debate on the draft Annual Plan for the current year the council indicated that $100,000 could be made available in the expectation that retailers would contribute a similar amount. That decision followed a request from the Rotorua Retail Advisory Board for the council to support the introduction of more patrols. In their submission to the council the retailers said that they would contribute to the cost of the service.

“Over the last few months the Rotorua Retail Advisory Board has been working with local businesses to secure financial buy-in. However they have found it hard going for a number of reasons, including the current economic business environment and the low winter trading period which have meant many operators have found it difficult to commit to participating.”

Mrs Duckett said the CBD Patrols will operate 7 days a week, and will run in close liaison with local police. At any time there will be two to four people on patrol in the CBD with a flexible schedule to meet demand and peak periods.

“These highly visible, well-trained and approachable street patrollers will act as a deterrent to troublesome or illegal behaviour. They will be extra ‘eyes and ears’ for council, police and local businesses and will quickly report bad behaviour to Rotorua Police, and damage to public property in the CBD and surrounding reserves to the council. The patrollers will also be available to answer queries from members of the public and visitors to town.”

The $100,000 council funding will be boosted by a $57,000 contribution from Ministry of Justice to enable the project to go ahead for the 2011/12 year. The council will also be discussing whether the CBD Patrols could be funded beyond the 2011/12 year and this will be subject to a future report and consideration as part of the next RDC long term plan.