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Residents concerned about youth disorder at the Hibiscus Coast Bus Station have taken to social media to discuss what should be done.
Incidents include alleged assaults, theft, intimidation of others (including bus drivers), and verbal abuse.
There have been issues reported with young people at the bus station since February, but Police say there was an escalation in the school holidays.
Waitemata North Area Prevention Manager, Snr Sgt Roger Small of Orewa Police says it is a real concern that people report issues on social media, instead of coming to Police.
He says Police became aware of one alleged assault at the station by seeing it on Facebook.
“It was not reported to us, and Police should be the first point of call,” Snr Sgt Small says.
He says Police are aware of incidents at the bus station and nearby shops, and know the group who are committing the offences.
“Generally the younger ones are being incited by older ones and it’s a small core group, not ‘an epidemic’,” he says. “They are being charged when we can – some are too young.”
Recently two males, aged 14 and 16, were put before the court in relation to an incident at the station. It is alleged that, on April 20, two males approached two male victims and presented a weapon as a threat to hand over their personal belongings. Police took both alleged offenders into custody – they were to appear in the North Shore Youth Court on April 26.
Police have increased patrols in the area, including at night. Those involved include the Community Constable, youth aid and general duty staff. Members of Police’s tactical crime unit are riding on the buses and the Community Patrol is driving through the station to report any issues they see to Police.
Snr Sgt Small says a ‘whole community’ approach is needed, but the first thing is for the public to call 111 (for serious issues such as assault or theft) or 105 (for general disorder).
Comments on social media include the need for security guards so that people feel safe– this is Auckland Transport’s (AT) responsibility.
AT spokesperson, Blake Crayton-Brown, says AT is working with Police.
“The safety of our services and locations is our top priority,” Crayton-Brown says.
He says bus stations are designed to deter criminal behaviour with good sight lines, lighting, CCTV and help points where people can report issues. If the activity is reported via help points, live public address announcements can be made – “Behaviours usually change once perpetrators are alerted to the fact that someone is watching, and responding,” he says.
“AT has extensive CCTV coverage across its main facilities, and images can quickly be shared with Police,” he says. “Transport officers can be deployed quickly to deter fare evasion and other anti-social behaviour.”
In addition, he says locations are monitored to detect known offenders and if need be mobilise security patrols or Police. If perpetrators are in school uniform, AT informs principals.
“If an incident occurs, the event report and images are followed up with Police through weekly liaison meetings. The shared intel has been effective in Police tracing perpetrators in the past.”
More youth support needed: Coast Youth Community Trust director, Olivia Huszak, says her organisation, which works with local youth, is aware of the problem. She says there are limited safe spaces for young people to hang out at locally, so young people create them themselves, often at the detriment of the rest of the community. She says a related issue is that young people missed three years of learning due to Covid-19, in terms of social skills and communication with peers. “Being on social media during that time normalised violent and abusive reactions to uncomfortable situations. Youth are in need of positive role models to learn new ways of dealing with those things.” In addition, she says cost of living pressures on parents and caregivers mean more time working and less spent with their children. Huszak says there is no one solution, and that the community needs to step up. “We need to see beyond the confronting behaviour and see young people for who they are – young people. Changing that behaviour means spending time with them.” CYC Trust runs a mentoring programme that connects adults with young people – one way to be part of the solution. At the same time, the Trust, and others working with young people locally, are aware that there are high risk young people who need support from trained youth workers. “CYC Trust is responding, and engaging with as many youth as we can. We need more trained youth workers, which means more funding. So, a not-so-easy solution is for our community to put their money where their mouth is and sponsor a youth worker.” (info at cyctrust.org.nz). “CYC Trust is about building resilient individuals and a stronger community, and with our community’s help we can achieve this.”
