The tragic killing of Janak Patel, the young dairy worker who worked at Rose Cottage Superette in Sandringham, has once again brought to the fore the urgent need for firm, decisive and urgent action from the government. Growing retail and violent crime needs to be urgently addressed with significant deterrent measures and substantial consequences, especially for young offenders along with increased security support to the dairy and retail sector.
According to available data, in the first six months of 2022, ram raids are up 518%, with 430 ram raids between January to November alone. Since 2020, crime affecting supermarkets is up 246%; Assaults against dairy and small business workers are up 31%, and around 1.4 million Kiwis were victims of crime in 2021. Interestingly, even the police aren't safe, with six being assaulted daily. However, despite these grim and extremely concerning statistics, arrests are trending down with a reduction in the prison population by 26%.
The effect of retail crime on families is detrimental, ranging from massive financial losses, increases in insurances, income strain thereafter and mental health issues. The frustration in the community is visible as people have had enough of this increasing crime.
Recently, the government announced a $4 million fund to support local councils in Auckland, Hamilton and the Bay of Plenty with crime prevention programmes. Moreover, reportedly, the police will broaden a gang-focused operation to intensify efforts to target prolific offenders.
On Tuesday (November 29), the government called for a meeting with a group of community leaders from various Indian communities attended by Prime Minister Jacinda Arden, Police Minister Chris Hipkins, Justice Ministry Kiri Allan, Ethnic Communities Minister Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Deputy Commissioner of Police Wally Haumaha, Assistant Commissioner Tamaki Makaurau Sam Hoyle, Superintendent Rakesh Naidoo and facilitated by Chief Advisor for Ethnic Communities Mervin Singham at Mahatma Gandhi Centre in Auckland.
Some of the people present at the meeting included NZICA President Narendra Bhana, Chairperson of NZ Central Sikh Association, Prithi Pal Singh, AIA President Dhansukh Lal and Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust Chairperson Jeet Suchdev, among others.
Regarding the meeting, Bhana said, "We are disheartened that little notice was given to allow us time to converse more widely due to the nature of the meeting and circumstances. However, we thank those who contacted us through various channels in the days prior, which allowed some expressions of concern to be heard. “
Bhana revealed that the community leaders proposed several measures for the government to act on priority, including assisting retailers, banning the wearing of gang patches in public and providing the business owner with education.
“Small business owner education on how to keep safe and checked on by community police. Reinstate Operation Dukan as a nation framework– education, training, community policing, auditing," said Bhana.
He also said they proposed harsher punishments for aggravated robberies and burglaries for adults and juveniles. “The government has lost sight of the hard arm of the law, which is vital for repeated offenders. Bring in law changes to give police the legal powers necessary to deal with young offenders firmly and decisively, even using reasonable force when necessary. Reinstate three strikes law,” said Bhana.
Bhana revealed that they want the process of disbursement of funds for the safety and protection measures of the retail sector to be transparent, less bureaucratic and less time-consuming. According to him, the government should provide reasons behind declining all applications for the fog cannons and bollards to date and revisit all declined applications.
The suggestions also included adopting similar self-defence laws to Australia, which provides for the defence of a stranger and extends to action taken to prevent or terminate unlawful imprisonment, as well as consideration for a separate Retail Crime court.
Bhana said, "We suggested increasing the retail crime budget to $100 million and removing all card transaction fees to allow businesses to go cashless. Also, there is a need for victim support centric sentencing, including additional support for the victim rather than being offender-centric.
“This was our opportunity to express Indian communities' serious concerns to the government. No deal or settlement was offered or reached during this meeting. Whilst the officials were engaging and acknowledged our concerns, we strongly requested a follow-up meeting to ensure our concerns were not in vain.
“We have strongly urged continued dialogue with government officials with the Ministry for Ethnic Communities made accountable for this to happen. We will continue to advocate for harsher policies in addressing retail crime. In the meanwhile, please do continue sharing your concerns with us," signs off Bhana.