Fran on unsafe Auckland

Fran O’Sullivan writes:

In the 12 months to March 2022, crime increased in Auckland city and more people began living on the street. Police statistics reveal 1971 assaults, 148 aggravated robberies and 1666 thefts from stores in that period. This was about 30 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Since then there have been the ram raids, intimidation of shop-keepers and break-ins.
Contrast this with Sydney and the rest of New South Wales, which recorded a drop in crime during the pandemic lockdowns. …

As one of 38,000 central city residents, I’ve had to come to terms with the escalating lawlessness in the CBD in the past two years. I’ve been threatened multiple times by the layabouts plonked outside the supermarkets in Victoria St and Queen St. Chased up Queen St by druggies wanting money. I’ve yet to see them moved on or trespassed — particularly during the four-month period when Auckland was locked down late last year.

There’s been intimidation by drugged-up thugs and patched gang members coming into office blocks to supposedly use toilets. I’ve witnessed others pushed into the midst of Quay St while police on the other side of the road did nothing.

I’ve put up with 501 deportees from Australia checking into our central city residential block intimidating fellow residents then running amok in city stores.

I’ve heard the tales of other residents around town who have been mugged and beaten, or had their gear stolen. Heard from them about the elderly 501 deportees from Australia running drugs from their apartment blocks with a steady stream of “customers” entering the place they call home.

There is fear in the city.

The most basic responsibility of Government is to keep its citizens safe. Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua and many more cities have become very unsafe.