Pies, cans and spit hurled at city staff

Petrol, a half-eaten pie, and an empty drink can are among the artillery angry members of the public have used against council staff in Palmerston North.

The city has reported 12 incidents of physical and verbal abuse against council staff in the past three years, the highest across the wider Manawatu region.

Eight of those incidents were reported to police.

Manawatu District Council had the most serious incident, when a woman poured petrol around the council’s front office.

Apart from that, Manawatu had not recorded any incidents where staff were physically or verbally abused, as it does not keep a register.

In Palmerston North, parking wardens were the most common targets of abuse.

In one case, the ammunition was a half-eaten pie, in another, an empty energy drink can. Another warden was hit above the eye with an object.

Two parking officers were assaulted, one was intimidated, and another threatened.

Three library staff faced difficult situations. One involved a drunk and belligerent youth who refused to leave Youth Space and the police were called.

A member of the public verbally abused a library staff member when they asked them not to urinate against the outside of the building.

Another was hit over the head with a cane by a trespassed member of the public.

A cleaner closing an after-hours toilet in The Square was hit from behind on the back of the head after asking a man to use another toilet.

Another staff member was assaulted when delivering a recycling bin.

Human resources manager Wayne Wilson said while the number of reports was not high, it seemed to be increasing.

Horowhenua District has been routinely logging abuse incidents in its People Safe system since it was set up in June 2015.

Since then, five have been reported, with three involving parking officers.

One officer was hit in the head by some coins that were thrown, one was hit with hot water from a thermos, and an officer who was spat at needed to have a blood test to ensure there was no infection.

Two animal control officers and a customer services officer were threatened about an impounded dog, and a property and parks officer and contractors were threatened at Lake Horowhenua.

A Horowhenua District Council spokesman said staff had access to monitored panic buttons and security guards during high-risk periods.

They all had training on personal safety.

The Rangitikei District Council recorded eight incidents, although no staff were injured, and none were reported to police.

Three incidents of abuse were directed at information or library officers, one after a request to turn down the volume on a computer, and two over missed buses.

Two parks assistants were verbally abused, a finance officer was abused by a housing tenant, and a customer services officer got an ear-full.

The Tararua District Council recorded one instance of physical abuse. It involved a library staff member serving at the counter. The incident was reported to police and a member of the public was issued with a trespass notice.