Peak body Retail NZ has blasted a newly proposed Bill that allows police to move people on in various settings, including retail spaces.
The peak body will make its oral submission to the Justice Committee on the Summary Offences (Move-on Orders) Amendment Bill this week, with CEO Carolyn Young saying that while it's important police have the tools they require to act on problem behaviour, this legislation needs some work.
The new amendment includes penalties for non-compliance of up to $2,000 or three months' imprisonment.
“Retailers in many urban centres are frustrated by ongoing problems with people outside their stores acting in a disruptive, disorderly, or threatening manner, which can make staff and customers feel unsafe,” Young said.
“We absolutely agree that police should have all the tools they require to act on these sorts of behaviours around retail and other premises.
“However, the Bill, as currently drafted, includes clauses that single out begging and rough sleeping. People who rough sleep or beg are not inherently disorderly or disruptive, and problem behaviour can be carried out by anyone, regardless of their financial or housing situation.”
In addition to wanting to see those clauses removed, Young said Retail NZ also holds concerns that the legislation will just move people from one retail location to another without addressing the underlying cause of any issues.
She said that if people who are rough sleeping or begging are asked to move on, they’ll likely just move to neighbouring streets or suburbs. Without appropriate intervention and wraparound support, she added, this could end up being a cyclical problem where issues re-emerge in front of retail premises every few weeks.
Young also noted that with an already-stretched police force that already can’t attend many reports of retail crime, it is not clear how police would have the resources to use any new powers in this area.
The Police Association President, Steve Watt, said officers already have powers to address disorderly or offensive behaviours. Retail NZ shared his concern that these new move-on orders would place police in a role of managing the visible effects of homelessness, addiction, poor mental health, poverty, and youth vulnerability, rather than addressing the underlying causes.
“Retail crime and disorderly behaviours outside stores are both very real issues for retailers,” Young said.
“While we appreciate the Government’s focus on helping retail in this area, without additional resourcing for police and social services, it’s not clear how effective proposed changes in this Bill will be.”