Additional Akl wardens a 'Band-Aid solution' to tackle offending

An Auckland business association is calling for increased funding to get even more compliance wardens patrolling in Auckland, saying the city "isn't as safe as it used to be".

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown announced funding for an additional 12 wardens on Saturday. They will work in teams of two and will begin patrolling from today, with the aim to prevent low level antisocial behaviour outside the central city between 7am and 5pm.

Wardens would be overseen by the Regional Compliance Team, who would provide support and guidance, direct staff and provide an immediate response to live incidents.

North Harbour Business Association's Kevin O'Leary told Breakfast the additional 12 wardens were a "Band-Aid solution".

"If you look at the rise in antisocial behaviour and crime across the city, twelve people to cover a huge city like Auckland, it just seems like it isn't enough, but it is absolutely a step in the right direction."

O'Leary said he would like to see part of the council's long-term plan budget allocated to increasing the initiative.

"An increased police presence and increased funding from the Government into mental health concerns and treatment, I think would both go a long way to helping with these issues."

He said the association's base in Albany mostly sees "petty" crime, however he cited a recent bus attack in the area that saw two 15-year-old girls assaulted by a group of youth as an example of the kind of incidents wardens could prevent.

"I think it's just the general feeling across the city and through businesses around here that the city just isn't as safe as it used to be," he said.

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O'Leary agreed with Mayor Brown's sentiment that a presence would equate to better prevention of crimes from initially occurring.

"From what I've heard, the presence in the central city seems to have definitely worked as a deterrent. So yeah there does need to be a presence, whether that is community patrols or additional policing, or ideally both."