Rough sleepers whose belongings are obstructing footpaths in the New Plymouth’s CBD are being warned to remove them or risk them being impounded.
Mayor Neil Holdom said council staff have begun telling rough sleepers they have to remove their belongings and structures within seven days.
“The response comes in the wake of growing concern about the increase of rough sleepers in the city centre and the impacts of that activity, including items blocking shop entrances, drinking alcohol in the alcohol ban area, drug taking, violence, intimidation of members of the public and generally making the area look untidy and feel unsafe.”
So far this year, the council had received 30 calls in relation to rough sleeping, nine of which were referred to police.
Obstructions in public places, including obstructing access to properties, was a breach of NPDC’s Public Places Bylaw and the Local Government Act 2002 gave authorised council staff the authority to remove any offending items if the owner ignores requests to do so.
Holdom said while council was currently considering how it could support the establishment of an emergency shelter, provision of food and social services to help some of the most vulnerable people in the district, it could not stand by and allow the blatant breaches of bylaws to continue unchecked.
“We are doing our best to come up with solutions and working with local philanthropists and charities on a solution that will provide food and shelter for these members of our community, while at the same time making it clear we will not accept ongoing breaches of the bylaw and obstructing access to properties,” he said.
Holdom acknowledged some may see this move as heavy handed towards a vulnerable community.
“The challenge we face is that the issues in the CBD are escalating, and I have real concerns that unless we enforce our laws and bylaws now, we can only expect more people, more disorderly behaviour and the corresponding negative impacts on our law-abiding people, workers and businesses in the city.”
Holdom said council was still finalising a process for dealing with any seized property, which under the Local Government Act 2002 must be stored for 14 days before any unclaimed property could be disposed of.
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