Wellington’s inner city retail and hospitality sector group, OurCBD, has collaborated with New Zealand Police, the Inner City Association and Wellington City Council in a unique precinct strategy to combat crime and anti-social behaviour.

While Wellington CBD is a vibrant shopping and dining destination, some areas have been challenged by store thefts and petty crime. These issues, which have concerned business owners, have been discussed through the OurCBD group, which is responsible for town centre guardianship.

With funding from Wellington City Council, the Inner City Association has employed stakeholder advocate, Heather Morris, to bring businesses together to develop collective strategies in response to these issues.

Morris is a well known advocate for small business, having been a key part of the “Hands up for Christchurch” initiative which supported Canterbury retailers in the wake of earthquakes.

“Developing commercial community has been as much a focus as addressing problems with crime and behaviour,” says Lorraine Nicholson from First Retail Group, which works in partnership with Wellington City Council. “We’ve been delighted with the way business owners have begun helping each other, reconnecting with neighbours and involving themselves in the program.”

The next phase of initiative includes a NZ Police-led training scheme which is designed to inform owners and staff on how best to deal with incidents that can occur in the inner city. Businesses wanting to attend a free event tomorrow can register at www.ourcbd.co.nz.