Auckland Transport and a former senior policeman are calling for a stronger police presence at the city's Britomart transport hub following a brawl last month, Radio New Zealand reports.
About 100 people were at the station on 13 December after the Christmas in the Park concert when fighting broke out. After the crowds were dispersed, violence spread to other stations, with smaller fights breaking out at the Newmarket, New Lynn, and Glen Innes stations.
In a report assessing how the fight was handled, Auckland Transport said for future events it would ask for more police at key stations.
Auckland Transport group manager of transport Mark Lambert said discussions were under way with police. “While things aren't completely agreed yet, we've got a pretty good understanding that there will be police presence at a few offices at Britomart, and for major events moving forward.”
Auckland councillor and former police chief George Wood said security at the train station needed to be taken more seriously. “We're asking people to go down into the bowels of the earth, get onto these trains, you're locked into a compartment with other people, and it's pretty unfair and it's daunting when you get off and there's people that may be threatening getting off at the same station.”
Wood hoped police had a robust plan ahead of the Cricket World Cup next month and said it was a no-brainer more police were needed at the stations for big events. “This is on the money definitely, that police have got to be involved in policing the rail system. It happens overseas - I think we're the last bastion holding out where there are no police on our rail system.”
Inspector Gary Davey from Auckland City Police said the police would continue to work closely with Auckland Transport to make sure future disorder at Britomart was prevented.
