Assaults on Work and Income staff double

Since last year's Ashburton shooting the number of assaults on Work and Income staff has doubled. Photo / Mark Mitchell, NZ Herald

Since last year's Ashburton shooting the number of assaults on Work and Income staff has doubled, newly released figures show.

The numbers, obtained by Radio New Zealand under the Official Information Act, also show a growing number of beneficiaries trespassed from Work and Income offices for threatening behaviour.

In September last year, Ashburton Work and Income workers Leigh Cleveland and Peg Noble were killed and another staff member was injured when they were shot, allegedly by gunman Russell Tully.

In the year to June, 46 Work and Income staff were seriously assaulted and 413 people were trespassed for threatening behaviour.

This compares with 2013/14, when there were 22 assaults and 163 trespasses, and comes despite beefed up security at Work and Income sites, where 250 extra security staff have been employed.

Associated social development minister Jo Goodhew told Radio NZ the increase could be down to copycat behaviour.

"We'e seen a number of people threatening staff based on what they've read in the paper.

"They think that that's going to get extra attention, but when they get that extra attention I'm not sure it's the extra attention they thought they wanted."

Mrs Goodhew said all threats were taken seriously, while those trespassed could still access the support they needed.

The "nature of the lives" of Work and Income clients meant "they've got a lot going on" and their behaviour sometimes "boiled over", she said.