Crime Down Nearly 50% In CBD Newmarket

Crime Down Nearly 50% In CBD Newmarket In Just Two Years

Despite an economic recession Auckland's leading shopping precinct, Newmarket, has again experienced a notable fall in overall reported crime in the year to 30 April 2010.

"This is great news and shows our zero tolerance strategy to crime in Newmarket continues to pay big dividends. Our highly publicised CCTV security cameras have made a huge difference, helped by Newmarket Police and Newmarket Security's proactive efforts and hard work. We have run a lot of criminals out of town and that has been good for business. This will silence any CCTV sceptics out there," says Cameron Brewer, chief executive of the Newmarket Business Association.

Newmarket's Officer in Charge, Senior Sergeant Wendy Spiller, says Newmarket’s central business district continues to buck the trend.

"CBD Newmarket’s overall crime statistics have only decreased in the past two years. It has been a great effort by the police, the public, the business community, and Newmarket Security. We are grateful for the continued support and partnership with the Newmarket Business Association. We encourage other areas to consider adopting a similar model which is proving to be very worthwhile," says Ms Spiller.

Ms Spiller says her police station's own assessments show overall reported crime in key categories is down about 25% in central Newmarket on the previous year. This includes falls in reported burglaries, stolen cars, violence offences, drug offences and disorder. Theft from vehicles is the only category that hasn’t dropped, but Ms Spiller says that is consistent with Auckland City Police District’s city-wide statistics for theft ex vehicles.

Mr Brewer says Newmarket's state-of-the-art CCTV camera network funded and launched by the business association in mid-2008 is without doubt proving its worth, with overall reported crime in key categories down over 20% in the first year and a further 25% in the second year.

"Newmarket's approach to security has been an integrated one which sees Newmarket Security out on the street and in constant radio contact with our manned CCTV monitoring and control room inside the Newmarket Police Station.

"We've had an amazing two years when you consider the country’s had a nasty recession and unemployment has been rising. It goes to show that CCTV cameras can make a difference when you've got professionals actively working the technology. These are not passive cameras. We are actually using them to hunt out suspicious people and send them on their way. As they say, the proof is in the pudding,” says Mr Brewer.

Alan Young, Managing Director of Newmarket Security: “With reported crime levels dropping by almost 50% in two years, Newmarket is leading the way in demonstrating how a public-private partnership can be truly successful. With the vision and leadership demonstrated by the Newmarket Business Association, Newmarket has an incredibly effective service that is delivering a measurable result to all stakeholders. We are delighted with the results and to know that we have played a part in making this service so effective,” says Mr Young.

Cameron Brewer: "We are spending about $200,000 a year on security which includes the lease on the 19 CCTV cameras, employing staff to control the cameras and monitor the footage from the police station, and engaging the services of Newmarket Security to do a daytime security patrol. We spend a fair chunk of money on security, but it has meant central Newmarket is now a lot safer. As a destination having that credential is priceless.”

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