Napier trials night CCTV to tackle rising crime
Overnight monitoring will give police and the council real-time visibility of the city during hours when incidents are more likely to occur.
Councillor Sally Crown said they have had a clear signal from the community and local retailers that safety and crime after dark was a major concern.
In December 2024, Boy Taylor was found about 3.15am on Emerson St after being attacked.
Attempts were made to resuscitate him, but he died at the scene. Four men aged 18, 19, 21 and 33 were later charged with murder.
Emerson St retailers have been the target of multiple burglaries, including three this year at Life Pharmacy within 10 weeks.
Thieves in two of the raids targeted men's fragrances.
Council said the new monitoring hours aim to strengthen collaboration with police and provide better tools for responding to night-time crime, particularly retail break-ins and antisocial behaviour.
Crown said it wasn't often that the council was able to be agile.
'There are lots of things that come at us from different angles where we want to be enabling, where we want to act.
'So I take my hat off to council officers for taking the approach that they have and looking to take a step in a different direction to test and see how effective it might be for our community,' Crown said.
Wise says this is another step forward in evolving the service to meet community needs.
'Safety in our city doesn't stop when the sun goes down. This is about using the resources we already have in smarter ways, trialling what works best, and setting Napier up for long-term solutions that reflect the needs of our people and our place.'
Napier Assist was launched in 2022 after a survey revealed 44% of the 597 people who took part felt the city was not a safe place to live.
Despite the foot patrol, crime has continued to rise.
The temporary change will involve the Napier Assist team adjusting their shifts to cover night-time monitoring, while continuing their daytime patrols in a reduced capacity.
The trial will run until June 30, 2026.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
9 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Identical twins Colin and Graham Whines deny beating and kidnapping Northland man
The charges include wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, wounding with intent to injure, threats to kill, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition. Graham Whines is also charged with perverting the course of justice after he allegedly sent a text message with images of guns and ammunition to the complainant after the alleged assault. The court heard the twins had grown up with the complainant, Troy Hansen, in Auckland and then reconnected in the years after 2020 when the families discovered they had all moved to Northland. At around midnight on February 16, 2023, Hansen opened the door of his Whangārei property to the twins who had turned up unannounced. After Graham went to the bathroom, he allegedly grabbed hold of Hansen tightly while Colin allegedly struck him across the head with a beer mug. For the next three hours, the twins allegedly unleashed a brutal onslaught, raining down up to 50 blows with fists, feet and bar stools. They allegedly strangled him with a tablecloth, doused him in vodka and tried to ignite him. Throughout the ordeal it's alleged they repeatedly threatened to kill Hansen and his family. Hansen managed to escape and reach help at his parents' house and told them two Māori men had assaulted him at his house. This allegation was recorded on a 111 call and played in court. After being hospitalised with open wounds, concussion, broken ribs and a collapsed lung, he eventually told police it was not two Māori men but the Whines twins. When their house was searched, several firearms were located along with ammunition. Crown lawyer Pablo Hamber said DNA evidence placed the twins at the scene and the brothers had clearly executed a plan to assault Hansen. 'The Crown says when they are trying to escape and you stop them, it's unlawful. They're not consenting and the defendants knew they were not consenting,' Hamber said. Defence lawyer John Howell told the jury the twins were at the complainant's home but were not present when the violence took place. 'He makes a statement to police that it was two Māori men that did this to me,' Howell said. 'You must keep an open mind right through until verdict and my clients are innocent until proven guilty.' Judge Keith de Ridder is hearing the trial, which is expected to last one week. Photo / NZME Hansen gave evidence on Monday about the night he thought he was going to die. 'The first thing Colin said was, as he's got tears coming from his eyes, he's saying, 'we've been planning this for a whole year',' Hansen told the court. 'It was unbelievable' Hansen said that as he was being strangled, Colin repeatedly punched him – shattering the glasses on his face, then allegedly using the broken shards to try to gouge out his eyes. 'It was full strangulation,' Hansen said. 'How much pressure was being applied?' Hamber asked. 'It was unbelievable.' He said when his rib popped, Graham allegedly said, 'did you hear his rib crack?' After allegedly being assaulted for three hours, Hansen could not breathe as his lung had collapsed. He said he had a request of the brothers. 'I said, 'If you're gonna kill me can I have a cigarette and coffee before you do?'' 'You can kill me' Graham made him a coffee while the assaults continued and allegedly told his brother, 'We gotta kill him, Colin'. Hansen said the brothers were allegedly telling him to make a choice of which family member they would kill, to which he responded, 'You can kill me'. 'Graham was the one doing most of the stuff, he was doing most of the talking but they were both involved from start to finish.' According to Hansen, the brothers just stopped the assault and left, driving slowly out of his driveway. 'I just thought, this is weird.' When questioned by Hamber about why he had said it was two Māori men, he said he had made a promise to the accused twins he wouldn't tell anyone. 'I knew these boys had guns. They were threatening to kill my family. But I was always going to tell,' Hansen said. Under cross-examination by Howell, Hansen said he was not sure what the motive was but they were allegedly making strange comments that did not make sense. 'When he [Colin] was giving me a beating, he was saying, 'you gave me cancer',' Hansen said. 'What you're doing is making things up,' Howell put to the complainant. 'I don't think so, sir.' Judge Keith de Ridder is overseeing the trial, which is expected to finish on Friday. Shannon Pitman is a Whangārei-based reporter for Open Justice covering courts in the Te Tai Tokerau region. She is of Ngāpuhi/ Ngāti Pūkenga descent and has worked in digital media for the past five years. She joined NZME in 2023.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Scoop
Too Quick And Too Easy, Consumer Falls Victim To Online Loan Scam
A suspected scam involving a fake online loan provider has come to light following a complaint lodged with the Consumer Council of Fiji, raising concerns about online deceptive financial schemes designed to defraud vulnerable consumers. In this case, the complainant was misled over a two-week period by an entity operating on social media, under the name Quick and Easy, which promised fast loan approval and immediate disbursement upon payment of certain fees. The complainant was presented with what appeared to be formal loan contracts and was assured that the loan had already been approved. However, the page claimed that various banking issues were preventing the funds from being released. To resolve these supposed issues, the consumer was instructed to make a series of payments labelled as processing fees and penalties. In total, the complainant paid $1,800. Despite complying with every instruction, the loan was never delivered, and when the complainant informed the provider that a formal complaint had been lodged, all communication ceased and the scammers phone has since remained switched off. The Council has referred this matter to the Fiji Police Force for further investigation. 'We are urging all consumers to exercise extreme caution when dealing with online lenders, or social media pages which promise loans and demand payments before any service is delivered,' said Ms. Shandil. 'The red flag was there from the beginning. Being asked to pay $1,800 just to secure a loan is not only highly suspicious, it's completely unacceptable. Which legitimate bank or licensed lender demands such a sum upfront before even disbursing funds? This clearly highlights the urgent need for improved digital and financial literacy among Fijian consumers.' 'Scammers exploit what people don't know, and we must collectively work to close that knowledge gap. No genuine financial institution operates this way, and consumers must know the warning signs before it's too late,' added Ms Shandil. She further stressed that while the Council can assist in mediating disputes and advocating for consumer rights, matters involving suspected online fraud fall outside its jurisdiction. 'In such cases, we work closely with law enforcement agencies and refer matters for criminal investigation. Consumers must know that if something feels wrong or rushed, it's worth slowing down and verifying first,' she added. Consumers who encounter similar schemes are encouraged to report the matter to the Council via email at complaints@ or by calling the toll-free number 155.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Scoop
Fiji: Consumer Alert Issued On Rogue Traders With Repeat Complaints
Once again, the alarm is being sounded on unethical trading practices in the marketplace, this time spotlighting a company that has become notorious for misleading, ignoring, and frustrating Fijian consumers. Raj Roofing has, over a five-year period, become a symbol of what is wrong with repeat offending traders. Since 2020, the Council has received numerous complaints against Raj Roofing, and the complaints continue to persist to this day. What is particularly alarming is not just the volume of complaints, but the repeated nature of the issues raised, coupled with the trader's consistent refusal to take responsibility. Equally concerning is that Raj Roofing operates under numerous different aliases across social media platforms, which creates confusion for consumers trying to identify or contact the business. In addition to using various business names, they also maintain multiple social media accounts under slightly altered profiles. This deliberate tactic makes it difficult for customers to trace the business, verify its legitimacy, or hold it accountable when issues arise raising serious concerns about transparency and consumer protection. In a recent case received by the Council, a consumer reported paying Raj Roofing in full for the purchase of a water tank and a 200-litre drum. However, after receiving the payment, the company failed to deliver the items as promised. Attempts by the consumer to follow-up were met with silence and eventually, the trader blocked the complainant's number entirely, effectively cutting off all communication. Council CEO Seema Shandil says it is time to speak out against businesses that persistently exploit consumers. 'These businesses are not simply making errors, they are intentionally attempting to take money and disappear, disregarding legitimate consumer concerns and operating in ways that undermine trust. This is why we are issuing this advisory: - to protect consumers from further harm. Consumers are urged to be alert to red flags such as traders avoiding documentation, refusing receipts, or operating only through social media without a clear point of contact. Anyone who believes they've been misled or mistreated by these or other traders is encouraged to contact the Council by calling the toll-free National Consumer Helpline on 155 or emailing complaints@
