28 Jun 2015

Police accused of ignoring threats

8:50 pm on 28 June 2015

A south Auckland business association says an area of Otara is becoming so dangerous it is like the Wild West, but the police are failing to act.

Window washers in South Auckland

Window washers in South Auckland Photo: RNZ / Tiana Barns

Last week the police began trespassing window-washers in the area around the intersection of East Tamaki Rd and Bairds Rd, after reports of disorder, vehicle crime and wilful damage.

Manukau Business Association chief executive Kerry Burridge said they had asked the police to act several times after repeated threats to their security guard.

She said the situation was so bad their security guard had been wearing a stab-proof vest and a body camera, but the police had failed to take any action, and had simply told him to withdraw.

"Our complaint though is the police have not stepped in and filled that void and the situation down there is getting worse, it's like the wild west."

Police said they had responded several times to the guard's concerns, which had been resolved.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs