The proposed move-on orders will not effectively deal with problem behaviours outside retail stores, Retail NZ has warned.

The Summary Offences (Move-on Orders) Amendment Bill allows police to order individuals 14 years or older to leave a public place and stay away for up to 24 hours. Targeted behaviours include threatening, intimidating, obstructing business entry, breaching the peace, begging, rough sleeping, or indicating an intent to inhabit a public space. 

Retail NZ CEO Carolyn Young agreed that police should have the tools they need to act on problem behaviour, but stressed that the proposed legislation needs some work.  

“The Bill, as currently drafted, includes clauses that single out begging and rough sleeping. People who rough sleep or beg are not inherently disorderly or disruptive, and problem behaviour can be carried out by anyone, regardless of their financial or housing situation,” she said.

In addition to wanting to see those clauses removed, Young raised concerns that the legislation will simply move people from one retail location to another without addressing the underlying causes of the issues.   

“If people who are rough sleeping or begging are asked to move on, they’ll likely just move to neighbouring streets or suburbs. Without appropriate intervention and wraparound support, it could just end up being a cyclical problem where issues reemerge in front of retail premises every few weeks,” she said.

It is also unclear how officers would have the resources to use any new powers, given an already stretched police force, Young added.

“Retail crime and disorderly behaviours outside stores are both very real issues for retailers. While we appreciate the Government’s focus on helping retail in this area, without additional resourcing for police and social services, it’s not clear how effective proposed changes in this Bill will be,” she said.