Crime rising in Hamilton Central

Have you noticed our police patrolling Garden Place more often? If your answer is yes, then you aren’t imagining things. 

After business owners in the Hamilton CBD expressed their concerns about rising crime and incidents occurring in the area, Hamilton Central Business Association requested more of a police presence in the area.

According to the Waikato Regional Council at the end of last year, the highest rate of crime victimization in the region was in Hamilton City with 1,304 incidents per 10,000 resident population.

However, in the central city, this number is more than two and half times the city average. According to a Crime snapshot breakdown by the New Zealand police, in the last year Hamilton Central has experienced 3538 victimisations. This number went up from the previous year’s total of 3005.

The crimes range from theft, assault, burglary, robbery, abduction and sexual assault and an incident can involve a person, organisation or premises.

The HCBA is aware of the rising crime that businesses are experiencing so they have been working alongside the police to audit businesses and advise them to increase the safety of the people of these businesses.

Vanessa said adding more of a police presence in the area is “a big ask” because everyone wants them throughout Hamilton, however, she said the police do try to be in the area, whether they are driving past on the way back to the station or they occasionally walk through Garden Place when they dealing with something in the area.

Vanessa said she was thankful to have City Safe assist them as they not only deal with smaller issues but they “keep an eye out as well”. They work alongside the police to help protect the people in the area. 

With businesses taking more precautions and having a more secure presence in the Hamilton Central area business owners will hope to see these stats improve.