Students on best behavior

POLICE data suggests disorderly behaviour in North Dunedin is improving, as the University of Otago claims ‘‘antisocial’’ firesetting and glassbreaking continue to decline.

Usually, there was a spike in public order offences around Orientation Week, but data from police showed only 10 public order offences this February in the area designated ‘‘Otago University’’ — from Frederick St to Dundas St — compared with 30 at the same time in 2017 and the same number in 2016.

In the ‘‘North Dunedin’’ area, which stretches from Dundas St to Opoho Rd, public order offences were down to three this February, compared with 31 in 2017 and 41 in 2016.

‘‘The [university], through the student Code of Conduct has focused on improving student behaviour and safety, focusing on antisocial behaviour including firelighting and glassbreaking in recent years, both of which continue to trend downwards,’’ a university spokeswoman said.

Between August 2017 and August 2018, a total of 111 fines were issued by the proctor to misbehaving students, worth $12,900 in total.

The figure of $12,900 compared with a total of $13,498 in fines handed out by the proctor for the entire 2017 academic year.

In 2012, $14,860 was imposed, $12,465 in 2013, $23,587 in 2014, $21,380 in 2015, and $13,115 in 2016.

A university spokeswoman said the money was used to assist students through a Student Emergency/Hardship Fund, run in conjunction with Otago University Students’ Association. Last year, the remaining money went to OUSA student support, to fund emergency food bags.

Throughout the fiveyear period, the university more commonly handed out fines for disorderly behaviour, unlawfully being on property, breaking glass, intentional damage, and setting fires. Students were less frequently fined for assault, harassment, possession of drugs and other offences.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand East Otago fire risk management officer Mark Bredenbeck said the it had definitely noticed a decline in nuisance fires in the last 18 months.

Fire service figures for Dunedin showed 15 furniture fires in

North Dunedin last year, com pared with 124 in 2013.