Begging for legal high money

Rotorua police Senior Sergeant Brendon Keenan said police youth teams were focusing on the CBD recently to curb begging.

Beggars are targeting shoppers to get money for legal highs, say police, but a central city group has plans under way to turn the CBD into a safer zone for families.

Inner City Focus Group founder Mike Steiner said begging was an ongoing issue but he was confident new initiatives would address that.

He said his group was working with Debbie Potaka, who set up public meetings following inner city fights over the Christmas period. Alternative education was one way forward.

"Everyone has some value and we have to find ways to engage them [youth] productively," he said.

"I don't feel uncomfortable walking anywhere in the city but I do feel disappointed, distressed and unhappy at times because of the type of behaviour I witness in the street. It's intimidating, embarrassing and unhealthy looking and that's what scares off the majority of families from participating in what the city has to offer.

"These few people come from unfortunate, dysfunctional backgrounds. "They're aimless, listless and there's nowhere for them to go."

He said the group wanted to help them become engaged in society.

Rotorua police Senior Sergeant Brendon Keenan said police youth teams were focusing on the CBD recently to curb begging.

There would also be an increased police presence during the school holidays, he said.

"We believe youths begging for money is linked to getting money for legal highs, especially because of the shops where they are hanging around," Mr Keenan said.

"When they're begging in the street they're already on them or have been on them, it's quite blatant that they want money for this.

"It can be quite threatening, especially if they are in numbers and appear agitated.

"We're doing a lot of beat work looking for this sort of thing and sometimes they come back with a youth."

A Rotorua mother-of-two told the Rotorua Daily Post she had been asked for money by people at the Westend shops as well as in the Central Mall car park.

On one occasion she was approached from behind while putting her baby in her car.

"It's disgusting. Myself and my partner work hard to provide for our young family.

"I have grown up in Rotorua all my life so I don't scare easily nor do I get intimidated easily but when I am with my babies and by myself it's a different story."

Rotorua District Council Inner City Revitalisation Strategy leader councillor Karen Hunt said there was a general by-law banning begging.

"While our people working in the inner city haven't detected any noticeable increase in instances of begging in recent months, I'm aware there's a feeling from some businesses that it has increased," she said.

"When and if we do become aware of anyone soliciting money in this way in the central city they're approached and asked to stop, and if necessary police assistance is sought."