Retailers demand action on wave of business crime
Thousands of dairy owners and their supporters gathered in central Auckland yesterday to protest against what they call the Government’s lack of response to ongoing business crime and rising violence, including the death of Sandringham dairy worker Janak Patel.
Protest organiser Sunny Kaushal said many were angry and annoyed by “games this Government is continuing to play and the lies they tell”, and the march was also to tell them “it’s time to stop”.
Last week, many dairies nationwide shut between 12.30pm and 2.30pm to protest the fatal stabbing of Patel.
Following this, the Government announced new measures to combat retail crime — including a fog cannon subsidy scheme open to all small shops and dairies in New Zealand.
But Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern went on to say there was a global shortage of fog cannons which could mean many storeowners wanting cannons would have to wait until next year.
She said police expected just 455 fog cannons to arrive before Christmas.
Kaushal claimed what the PM said was “misleading”.
“We have suppliers contacting us, telling us they have ready stock that they can put on the next plane to New Zealand and many are even cheaper than what the Government claims they will be paying,” he said.
“Hundreds of businesses and business owners continue to face crime and violence, some lives have already been lost and we cannot wait any longer.”
Owners and workers of dairies, jewellery stores, petrol stations and other retailers and associations took part in the protest.
Kaushal said they wanted the Government to introduce urgent policies and to make legislation that would make communities and businesses here safer.
“This is to tell them ‘enough is enough’, we don’t need any more PR spins or sweet words, we need urgent action,” he said.
“There is a crime emergency happening and the Government needs to get tough on crime.”
Speaking at a post-cabinet conference late last week Ardern said that youth crime was now much lower
than in the past, but the risks and harm from ram raids and other retail crime were concerning and creating victims.
“Shop owners and workers feel targeted. That’s unacceptable,” she said.
She announced new funding of $4 million which will be made available to local councils to assist with crime prevention measures.
Last week, Ardern also announced the extension of the Retail Crime Prevention Fund.
“The $6 million Retail Crime Prevention Fund was set up for small shops and dairies in early 2022 as offending shifted to ram raiding . . . we’re expanding eligibility to aggravated robbery committed over the last year,” the Prime Minister added.
— NZ Herald