Big brother is not watching: Months to replace Wellington public safety volunteers

Sunday, 30 August 2020

The controversial move to have paid staff watching video feeds of Wellington's party zone has seen the job remain unfilled months later.

This included Saturday night, when a handful of Wellington City councillors hit Courtenay Place to see first-hand how boozy and violent it is.

It comes amid safety fears around Courtenay Place, with talk of gangs moving in and at least two stabbings in and around the city stretch.

As the councillorststrolled the streets, posting on social media, the camera base back at council offices was unmonitored, except by council security staff, who monitor 85 cameras around town – up from seven cameras seven years ago.

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Mayor Andy Foster confirmed that months after monitors were taken out of the police station - where they were watched by an army of 50-odd volunteers - and reolcated to city council offices, the job of watching the cameras had still not been filled. He understood a job offer was going out this week.

“I’m satisfied we are going to have a system that is going to work going forward,” he said.

But Annabel Young, one of the ditched volunteers at the police station camera base, said having just one person was short of what was needed.

Police requested at least two volunteers on Friday and Saturday nights. There would often be more than one event that needed monitoring at one time, and two people were often needed to track a single incident.

She pointed to the example of an assaulter leaving the scene and being tracked by up to six cameras - a complicated job requiring two pairs of eyes. If trouble did start, someone was needed to contact police.

“If something goes down, it really, really goes.”

Councillor Fleur Fitzsimons, who holds the council’s public health portfolio, said concerns had been raised with her from some of those involved with the previous, volunteer, camera base.

“The concerns include cost of the new approach and the level of monitoring.

“I am in ongoing discussions with council officers and have asked for information about how the council will ensure maximum safety from the new approach.”

Councillor Tamatha Paul, who holds the city safety portfolio, said security staff could see the security feed, but she would have expected the specialised staff member to have been employed sooner.

“I wouldn’t say I’m happy or satisfied with the way it has gone.”

The decision to move the operation from volunteers to a paid person in the council was made by council staff.

If it had come to a vote of councillors, Paul would have voted to retain the volunteers, although this did pose privacy issues, she said.

Foster, who stayed out on Courtenay Place till 1.30am on Sunday morning with Deputy Mayor Sarah Free and councillor Teri O’Neill, spent a good part of the night at Take 10, which provides an array of services to help drunk people stay out of trouble.

Foster said it was likely the council would this week approve funding for the Take 10 service to operate on Friday nights as well as Saturday.

There were some urban design aspects the council could look at to reduce problems, such as widening footpaths so people didn’t hit those waiting in queues, and better lighting, he said.

He saw little aggression except some aimed at acting area commander Inspector Dion Bennett by an intoxicated man calling himself an “army of one”. He acknowledged that Saturday night was notably quiet due to the alert level 2 restrictions.

Stuff asked Wellington City councillors for their thoughts on Courtenay Place on a Saturday night.

Andy Foster

“It was a relatively quiet night, undoubtedly more so because of the Covid level 2 restrictions, though many of the bars were comfortably filled inside and in their pavement areas, and there were orderly queues for several. We were accompanied by Police and spoke with hospitality managers and several customers. We also spent time with Take 10 who are doing a great job in providing a safe place for people to take some time out, have a drink of water, maybe some sweets, recharge a phone. The only evidence of any poor behaviour during the time we were there was from one ‘gentleman’ who had an evident dislike for our constabulary and specifically approached us to share some of his wisdom with us.

“Hospitality owners are very concerned about the impacts Covid restrictions are having on their businesses, and gave the clear indication that this will impact on jobs unless we move very soon to Level 1 (or 1.5), and stay there. Robust border management was clearly front of mind.

“However clearly one night’s snapshot doesn’t mean everything will always be well, and we (Council) will continue to work with hospitality, Police, Maori and Pasifika wardens and organisations like Take 10, to ensure that New Zealand’s best night time entertainment district gets through Covid, and comes out better, safer, and more attractive. That starts with ongoing improvement to CCTV monitoring and lighting, additional support for Take 10 (allowing them to operate on Friday night as well as Saturday), and importantly good, ongoing operational level interaction of all parties through re-establishing the Night Time Economy Forum following a recent meeting I set up with Police, hospitality and retail. That will provide a forum for any further initiatives to be raised, discussed and advanced. My door is always open and I will continue to meet regularly with Police, hospitality and retail. I expect that we will align any desirable improvements to public space with pending Let’s Get Wellington Moving work.”

Sarah Free

“It was apparently a relatively quiet night, and on the whole people seemed to be enjoying themselves safely.

“The Take 10 caravan is a great initiative;-it’s there to offer free water, cell phone charging and just a safe place to get some assistance or have some time out.

“I think there are some things Council could do to improve the area-specifically better lighting in some areas, and considering better use of the street space around Courtenay Place. There are some spots where the existing pedestrian space is a bit cramped, and overall the area could do with a bit of a lift.

“The toilets beside Te Aro Park were quite dark, and groups of young people were lingering around in and around them. Toilets are needed in the area so I am not sure the answer is to move them, but there is an issue there that needs some thought.

“There is a very high threshold for proving a case to reduce opening hours from the standard 4 am closing. Council looked into this a few years ago without success. There is also an argument that antisocial behaviour occurs around closing time whenever this occurs.”

Fleur Fitzsimons:

“There was high levels of intoxication on the streets in town and I saw some pretty nasty behaviour directed at one person by a large group of young men.

“It is clear there are major problems with alcohol and violence in the Courtenay Place area. We need to take the warning from police seriously that a fatality could occur.

“It was great to see a strong police presence which was clearly having some impact on immediate behaviour.

“We need more CCTV cameras, better lighting and public transport, increased funding for Take 10, and to reduce bar opening hours to make this area safer.

“The bars are open till 4am which is just too late. There is very little of the vibrant nightlife we want to see at 4am on Courtenay Place.

“Courtenay Place at 4am is not a place Wellingtonians can be proud of.”

Tamatha Paul:

“I didn’t go on the walk because I regularly go to Courtenay Place … and have also seen Take 10 in action, and met with various stakeholders of Courtenay Place over the last few weeks, including police. So I am pretty aware of the situation there, and I am actively working on making the Courtenay Place area safer, with a special focus on Te Aro park at the moment.

“From what we’ve heard and what I’ve seen, the problem is that, despite what some people believe about gang activity, all people from different walks of life have issues handling their alcohol, and the street layout and lack of space creates conflict. We know we have a binge drinking issue in New Zealand.

“WCC can look at street layout, pedestrianising Courtenay Place, and funding more eyes on the street like Take 10 or the Māori Wardens who are able to tip out alcohol as per liquor ban areas. We can look at alcohol licensing, and collaborating with the police, Regional Public Health, social services like DCM, and other groups to create effective solutions.

“Reducing bar opening hours will not solve the problem. It will simply push the problem elsewhere throughout the city, which will make it harder to police. Reduced bar opening hours would mean more house parties in suburban neighbourhoods, and spreading police resources thinner.

“We could look at staggered opening hours for the most high-risk bars and clubs, we could look at one-way door policy, and also on having better transport options to move people in and out of the city quickly. We need an evidence and experience-based solution that doesn’t put clubs and bars under even more financial pressure than they already arewith covid-19 impacts.”

Jill Day

“It is concerning to see so many young people hanging around on the streets. They can’t get into the bars, so they just hang around.

“I am so grateful for the work of the Local Hosts, Take 10, and the police. It was great to see the coordination and communication between them.

“I don’t see why bars need to be open until 4am. The reports of what happens between 3am and 5am are very sad.

“It was helpful to see and hear what can be done to improve the area. We observed many dark spots and problem areas. The toilets at Te Aro Park are clearly a significant problem.”

Rebecca Matthews

”I am open to the idea of earlier closing hours.”

Sean Rush

“From what I hear the worst behaviour is between 2 and 5 am. I don’t think reducing bar opening times is the answer, staggering them is better and I understand that is already happening on a voluntary basis. Better transport from town to uber/taxi hubs in the Hutt and Kapiti should be prioritised.”

Teri O’Neill

“I see the problem first hand as I’ve worked for Take 10 since we started up again in December last year.

“There’s been a problem of toxic masculinity and violence on Courtenay for a while now. Last night was slower with Covid restrictions but I would encourage another ‘real Wellington’ assessment to be made when Wellington gets to level 1 again, on the night of a rugby game and at 2am if the council wants to see how unsafe things are.

“We need to be looking it to all options to reduce violent offending and improve city safety. It’s irresponsible to say it’s related to gangs - what we know from police is this is an ongoing culture problem. Since December [I have] observed Fights, drug dealing, violence, under 18-year-olds stranded, and supported LGBT people and women after conflict and fights.

“Wellington City Council can: remove all private cars to allow for better people management and reduce conflict. (Supported by police and local hosts)

“Listen to local hosts in better urban planning for safety - respond to people working on the ground.

“Increase lighting and activate side / shadowed spaces, empty spots [and] support organisations targeting variable people - DCM, RespectED and Take 10 …

“Make our bars safer with #askAngela, DGTY messaging

“I’ve undertaken sexual violence prevention training, deescalation training and first aid - it would be great if bar managers had these qualifications too. “