Police Commissioner Andrew Coster confirmed over the weekend that New Zealand Police will establish new Community Beat Teams in major cities across the country.
It will also launch Operation Safer Streets in Auckland to target anti-social behaviour and crime in the Central Business District (CBD).
Coster said Community Beat Teams will be staffed from additional constabulary officers confirmed in the Budget 2024.
“This is the start of a staged two-year roll out, which will see 63 additional staff deployed in new Community Beat Teams across Auckland’s three policing districts (21 in each), 17 in Wellington and 10 in Christchurch,” Coster said.
“We know communities want to see more police out and about, particularly in those areas experiencing challenges with anti-social behaviour and retail crime.”
The additional 21 staff landing in Auckland CBD will cover the busiest spaces, from Karangahape Road, to downtown and along the Viaduct. This will boost the existing Beat Team to more than 50 staff in the CBD.
“Our intent is to move to a 24/7 beat model in the CBD, working on a rostered basis with five teams, each led by a Sergeant, to increase police visibility around the clock,” Coster said.
“Increased visibility deters crime and encourages a sense of safety through positive engagement with the public and business owners.
“Community Beat Teams, alongside our existing response, prevention and investigation staff, will continue to deploy to areas of high demand.”
Coster added that crime trends have changed in recent years, with more anti-social behaviour and public place crime. However, retail crime data shows that crime in Auckland's central city is trending down, particularly ram raids on shops which peaked at 433 in 2022, dropping to 288 in 2023 and is now down to 32 year-to-date in 2024.
“It’s heartening to see crime in the Auckland central city now starting to trend in the right direction, but recent incidents have rightly caused concern,” Coster said.
“That’s why today we are also announcing Operation Safer Streets — an intensive deployment operation to target anti-social behaviour and crime in the CBD.”
This operation will continue until the new Community Beat Team is fully established and embedded.
Police regularly meet groups such as the K Road Business Association, Heart of the City, Auckland Council, as well as elected representatives and residents’ groups.
“Most of the issues we’re facing in Auckland CBD are complex and can’t be solved by Police alone,” Coster said.
“It’s vital we continue to work with partner agencies and other groups invested in Auckland’s success.”
Peak body Retail NZ welcomed the increased police investment, with Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young saying it is not coming a moment too soon.
“With another violent attack being reported on an Auckland retailer at the weekend, a more visible police presence in retail precincts is needed immediately,” Young said, referencing the aggravated robbery of a local jewellery store in Papatoeotoe, south of Auckland CBD. News reports indicate that the jewellery store owner was attacked with a hammer.