Alecia Rousseau
The tour of Palmerston North’s CBD includes meeting business owners affected by retail crime. The Coffee Club owner Verne Wilson (centre) says it is declining thanks to a new beat cop.
A tour of Palmerston North’s central business district has revealed youth crime and tensions in the area are simmering down.
Police Minister Ginny Andersen took a stroll around the CBD on Friday afternoon visiting business owners affected by retail crime.
Her first stop at The Coffee Club was met with gratitude from owner Verne Wilson.
He said trouble in the area had significantly decreased since community constable Connor Sparkes was placed on the beat earlier this year.
Anti-social behaviour was affecting business owners and patrons who said they had been subjected to abuse, aggressive behaviour and verbal threats.
Alecia Rousseau/Stuff
Stirling Sports owner Greer Murrie (left) says they are “really happy” with the efforts being made by police to deter youth crime in the area.
But Wilson said the officer’s presence had made a “huge difference”.
“We are lucky enough to have someone like Connor … whose heart is in the job.”
Stirling Sports, which moved from Broadway Ave to The Square, had also been the target of youth crime.
Owner Greer Murrie told Andersen things had drastically improved.
Stuff
Police outside The Coffee Club in May after several Mobsters jumped from a moving funeral procession for Raniel Kiu and attacked two rival gang members.
She said…
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