Safety plan in city working

Beggars aren’t an unfamiliar sight in Hamilton but the city council is seen as a leader in city safety.

That’s largely thanks to the Central City Safety Plan: first adopted in 2014 and recently rejigged.

Vagrants have been back in the spotlight recently, due to concerns a CBD crackdown pushed them into the suburbs.

‘‘Make no bones about it, we all had a really good conversation about what’s happening in other suburbs, especially other shopping centres,’’ councillor Paula Southgate said at a February meeting.

City safety is a complex issue for cities around the world, community services manager Debbie Lascelles said.

‘‘We’re actually seen as leading the way in this area. We get constant requests from other councils, requesting advice and asking how our current plan works.’’

The plan won a local government excellence award in 2016, and stated outcomes including a 30 percent reduction in reported CBD crime.

Now, council is aiming for three key results: people feeling safer in the city, less reported crime and anti-social behaviour, and less police intervention.

People don’t know what to do when faced with a beggar and we need a consistent community response, Cr Mark Bunting said.

‘‘The fact five different members of the community might walk past a beggar on the street and give a different response is actually one of our weaknesses as a city.‘‘

Mayor Andrew King had seen two people sleeping in doorways on his way to work, and said the city would be a shambles if it weren’t for groups who help vulnerable people.

‘‘This is a public space and these people do have rights, and we have to be careful.’’

Councillors unanimously endorsed the plan, and staffers will develop an action plan by August 2018.