Retail NZ said that the recently-announced move-on orders initiative has been seen as partial help for business owners.
Move-on orders may provide relief from individuals who are continuing to display antisocial behaviours in and around a number of CBDs across New Zealand, but Retail NZ warned that there is still a need to be cautious as to the long-term success this may have.
“Being able to have police move people on from an area where they are displaying anti-social behaviours and creating an unsafe environment for the public may be a useful tool to put a break the cycle. But we are cautious about the long-term solution, given that the order will be in place for only 24 hours and will require Police resourcing to implement,” said Carolyn Young, Chief Executive at Retail NZ.
“We do have some concerns about moving on people who are “rough sleeping” and where they would be able to move to if they have no home? Will they just be moved on to another area and in front of other retailers? The initiative with the Auckland City Centre Safety working group, driven by Minister Brown and Minister Mitchell, is the blueprint of what is needed. It’s a cross-agency approach (driven by Ministers) to address homelessness and rough sleeping, looking to better understand the needs of individuals and focusing on solutions that require access to housing, healthcare, benefits and work prospects etc. If we can address all of these area,s we are more likely to see a long-term difference in our CBD’s, and free up the Police to focus on higher priorities.”
She said that, ultimately, addressing the disorderly, threatening and intimidating behaviour seen in towns and cities across New Zealand was a positive step forward and providing Police with the tools to enable them to address this was welcome.
“But on its own, without wider social services support we don’t believe it make a long term difference."
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