Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck has welcomed the announcement of a new downtown police station. Photo: Supplied / HOTC
Central Auckland businesses say a 24/7 police station in the CBD is long overdue.
The government yesterday announced plans to relocate the current 24/7 station from College Hill - about 2km from the city centre - to a more central spot on Federal Street, promising better service to the community.
Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck said they were "really delighted" with the announcement.
"It's a key piece of the safety solution we've been seeking, and it's great news."
The relocation would mean the police were more visible and accessible for residents than their current location in Freemans Bay, she said.
"It's not that accessible for a resident trying to report crime having to walk up to College Hill, and this will be a 24/7 by mid year counter [where] people can report crime if they need to.
"We're noticing the difference already with more police on the beat and this just adds another deterrent - they're saying themselves, this will improve the ability to respond to crime, so it's good news all round."
The City rail link - due to open in 2026 - would be significant for the CBD, and the new police station would be right next door, she said.
"Actually setting up there, which is right by what is forecast to be the busiest station in New Zealand, [with] easy access in all directions of the city centre to K Rd, to downtown... the location is good.
"Yes, this [central police station] is a long time coming, but we are pleased to see it, and it will make a difference."
The addition of extra beat police in downtown Auckland had been "the big thing", she said.
"There's a very strong effort between central government, local government, people like ourselves, the social sector, community patrols, Māori wardens. There's a really strong, co-ordinated, cross-agency effort going in to address a variety of issues.
"The number one thing through all the work we did, as things deteriorated through that Covid period, is that people want to see police on the beat, and we have seen more of that, and that's noticeable."
Businesses and residents had "mourned the loss" of a station in the central city, so it was "very, very good to see that happening", she said.
Asked whether it would diminish police presence elsewhere in the city, Beck said she understood recruitment was underway.
"I understand that's going well, and I hope so, because we do sadly need more police because unfortunately the issues have been significant."
Crime had been trending down since last year and progressive improvements were important, not just in the CBD but other areas, she said.
"We want to see the whole country safe."
Being a beat cop 'very rewarding' - Police Commissioner
Meanwhile, police said a new 24/7 station in the city centre would help to ramp up crime response in the area.
Newly appointed Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told Morning Report that it was a "significant step forward" for the CBD.
The police station would be close to Queen Street, Karangahape Road, the ferry station and transport hubs, he said.
Morning Report host Ingrid Hipkiss asked if the new beat police were simply being deployed from other Auckland stations. Chambers said police officers were already working out of the Federal Street location.
"I've been a beat cop myself around this city. It's a very rewarding role, and the interactions that my staff are having with the community are all positive and that's good for policing, it's good for Auckland city."
Hipkins challenged Chambers on just how many officers would be in the city centre, given the job cuts, unfilled vacancies and redeployment of staff from other areas.
Police were aiming to reach 51 officers, which would enable them to provide a 24/7 service and manned desk from the middle of next year, he replied.
Asked about job cuts, he said police had thought "deeply" about roles that could be sacrificed, and the main consideration was the impact on frontline policing.
"We've been very careful and thoughtful to ensure those decisions are wise ones, because frontline policing is what communities expect us to be very good at, and I would be concerned if we were pulling back any services in that respect."
Chambers said he had not been briefed on which services would be cut, but he understood corporate roles would be among the 173 planned job cuts.
Hipkiss asked about his response to the police officer caught on camera posing in a gang patch.
Chambers said he was "really disappointed", but the officer had apologised.
"From time to time, we are going to make decisions that we would rather not have made and I just want my staff to own those indiscretions when they do.
"We're not always going to get it right, but we need to own it, and learn from it, and move on."
Hipkiss asked Chambers if he thought the social media post would damage the relationship between police and gangs?
Police had put in "a tremendous amount of work" to prepare for the Gangs Act - to understand it, apply it and enforce the law - but they were seeing good compliance from gang members.
"It's encouraging to see they are making good decisions - it's not just about what we do as a police force."
New station coincides with job cuts - Labour
Labour welcomed the new police station for central Auckland, but said it was unfortunate it came on the same day as police job cuts.
The government yesterday described the new station as being paid for through reprioritisation.
Labour police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said the station means police would be more visible, but it came on the same day 173 non-sworn roles were set to be cut.
She said police were pulling back from mental health callouts, and the government was failing to tackle family violence.
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