Plan: Five strikes - you're out of city | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Serial criminals could soon be banned from Rotorua's central business district under a radical proposal to cut crime in the city.

The Rotorua District Council is considering giving police the power to issue trespass notices to those who have been convicted of five dishonesty-related offences committed in the CBD in the past five years.

They would be banned from entering the central city and would only be allowed in for things like doctor's appointments and court appearances. The trespass notice would last for about three months although it could be valid for up to two years.

If the proposal came into effect today up to 30 people would be banned immediately.

The proposal was discussed in secret by the Rotorua District Council's finance and strategic planning committee this week and was to remain under wraps until next week when it is expected to gain final council approval.

Rotorua police area commander Inspector Bruce Horne said the proposal was in response to repeated calls from the community to make the central city safer.

One-third of Rotorua's crime was committed in the CBD so the proposal would have a huge impact on cutting crime in the city, he said.

The thresholds of those who could be banned were very high and it was only the active, repeat criminals who would be targeted.

"Look at their profile. Why would you want to give them the opportunity to hang around the CBD to victimise people?"

Mr Horne said it would be easy to police as the small group who would be banned were well-known and easily recognisable to police officers.

He hailed the proposal a ground-breaking one which he said could be extended to include a wider range of criminals if successful.

"We have deliberately taken a conservative line. We are dipping our toes in the water."

Mayor Kevin Winters said some of those being targeted had a "huge number" of convictions.

He expects the proposal to be passed by the council next week, subject to legal opinion.

The Human Rights Commission said it believed the proposal fell outside the unlawful discrimination provisions of the Human Rights Act but some of Rotorua's defence lawyers were alarmed by the proposal. Rob Vigor Brown said it appeared to be a "gross misuse of power and discriminatory".

Another lawyer, Dafydd Malcolm, said the idea of banning people from the CBD was contrary to principles of New Zealand's laws, including the Bill of Rights. He thought it could be overturned by the courts. Mr Malcolm said he would look into the proposal and take it up with the New Zealand Council for Civil Liberties.

WHAT'S PROPOSED

*People who have been convicted of five dishonesty-related offences in the central city in the past five years will be banned from the area.

*It's proposed the ban would last three months.

*It would affect 20 to 30 people immediately.

*About one-third of Rotorua's crime is committed in the central city.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Should the council approve a proposal that will ban people who continually reoffend from the CBD?

Write to: The Editor, The Daily Post, PO Box 1442, Rotorua.

Fax: (07) 348 0220

Email: editor@dailypost.co.nz

Text: 021 893 399