Residents need clarity over Auckland Council, police agreement

RNZ News

7 hours ago

From left: Acting Superintendent Sila Fagaesea Siaki, Auckland Council Chief Executive Phil Wilson, Manukau Ward Councillor Alf Filipaina, and Acting Deputy Commissioner Jill Rogers.
Photo:
Auckland Council/LinkedIn/Tulai/File/LDR
Auckland Council and the police have signed a formal agreement to strengthen their team work on community safety.
But a South Auckland councillor is concerned that the public still needs clarity regarding the implications of the deal.
A memorandum of understanding (MOU), signed on 13 June, aims to strengthen work between police and council on common interests, including community safety and emergency planning.
Councillor Alf Filipaina, of the Manukau ward, say the agreement formalises what's already been happening for years.
"But what does that actually mean? That still needs to be communicated to the community."
Acting Superintendent Sila Fagaesea Siaki, director of Tāmaki Makaurau Partnerships, says the agreement sits at the highest level and filters down to all workgroups within each of our organisations.
It helps to provide leadership in the planning, development and implementation of community safety and crime prevention initiatives for Auckland, which covers all community groups, including Pasifika, he said.
But Filipaina, who oversees Auckland Council's safety portfolio, is concerned about the lack of clarity around implementing the agreement, especially given the safety issues facing many South Auckland communities.
"I would have loved to have attended as the safety portfolio holder, but that didn't happen," he said.
"I don't know how this is going to work in practice, but once I do, I'll be making sure our community understands, especially in relation to our local facilities."
Filipaina, a former police officer, welcomes the formal partnership, saying it sends a positive message to Aucklanders.
"From my perspective, it shows our community that both organisations are committed to working together to enhance safety in Tāmaki Makaurau. We've just formally signed an MOU that says safety will remain at the heart of this relationship.
"It cements the partnership between Police and Auckland Council and puts it out there publicly that we're working together to keep the community safe, and that will continue."
Public safety is at the heart of the new Police-Council agreement, aimed at enhancing safety across Auckland.
Photo:
Auckland Council
Local Democracy Reporting inquired how the MOU addresses issues in areas like South and West Auckland, where youth offending and public trust in police are ongoing concerns.
Siaki said both parties will strive for a consistent approach across the Auckland region. "There is no specific focus on any one particular area."
The agreement does not prevent Pacific communities from forming their own partnerships with police or council, he said.
"It reassures our people that these agencies are committed to aligning services to the needs of our communities."
Siaki says the agreement provides an opportunity for all local board members, councillors and NZ Police staff to work together on any given project that falls within 'common interest' areas - from community safety to emergency management.
Phil Wilson, Auckland Council chief executive, says the MOU is a formalisation of an already good working relationship.
"Auckland Council and NZ Police have had a healthy and effective working relationship for many years, which ultimately benefits Aucklanders."
Wilson says council teams work with police daily to ensure public spaces and vulnerable residents are cared for, noting that public safety is crucial for the city's economic well-being.
"In recent years, Auckland has seen a raft of community safety issues such as ram raids, aggravated robberies and retail crime come to the fore with the public," he said.
"These are complex issues that impact the whole region, which no one organisation can effectively deal with alone."
Acting Deputy Commisioner Northern Region Jill Rogers and Auckland Council chief executive Phil Wilson.
Photo:
Auckland Council
Jill Rogers, the Acting Deputy Commissioner for the Northern Region, says police are eager to build on the work established under the new MOU.
"We have seen a decrease in the offending we experienced a couple of years ago," Rogers says. "There has been a concerted and coordinated approach undertaken by police and council to address these concerns. Much has been made public about increased visibility and focusing on disorder and theft-related crime."
Auckland Council is responsible for a wide range of bylaws and regulatory functions, from dog control to public nuisance enforcement.
Under the Policing Act, police are responsible for law enforcement, community safety, and emergency response.
The agreement is set to be reviewed within the next five years.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.