Boozing vagrants are hurting business, says shop owner | Northland News | Local News in Northland

A fruit and vegetable shop owner says vagrants boozing in a park on the edge of Whangarei's inner-city liquor ban area are bad for business.

But the police have told local businesses the only way to stop them coming into shops is to slap trespass notices on them.

Gaye Moselen, owner of the Fruit and Vegetable Warehouse in Maunu Rd, said staff constantly dealt with drunken requests from the "park people" to use the shop toilet, for water or to have taxis called.

The drunks would arrive in the morning and spend the day getting boozed in Carruth Park next to her shop, most often on Tuesdays and Thursdays, she said.

Several times Ms Moselen or her staff have called the police about the vagrants' behaviour. Of three recent calls to the police, a squad car came to the shop once, Ms Moselen said.

The police suggested Ms Moselen apply for trespass notices to keep the drunks out of the shop, she said. That would mean she supplied the police with personal details about every person she wanted kept out.

"We're a business, and I am concerned that my staff and customers are being intimidated or being put off coming here, but why should I have to approach these people and get their names and addresses to give the police?" Ms Moselen said.

Whangarei Police Commander Inspector Paul Dimery said the police could only work within the law when acting on a complaint.

Ms Moselen said she was surprised public nuisance laws did not apply. Sometimes the men and women in Carruth Park  yelled abuse at  shop customers or people walking along the road, she said.

"It's just not a good look. We haven't actually been threatened but the situation is always unpleasant. It's very frustrating, and we feel powerless," Ms Moselen said.

"One, it's sad. I do feel very sorry for these people. Two, it's serious, because our business is at stake."

Store worker Dean Te Tai said, apart from the drunks coming into the shop "staggering and blubbering", there were public safety issues.

"These people drink in the park all day then come in and ask to use our toilet. If we say no they buy toilet paper and just do it in the park," Mr Te Tai said.

"We do call taxis when they ask because we want them out of here."

Whangarei District Council's central business district liquor bylaw prohibits drinking in nearby Cafler Park,  once regularly used for the behaviour. It is not illegal for people to drink in public places outside the boundaries of the ban.

The council's community safety officer Dave Palmer said other businesses near the vegetable shop did not have the same level of problem.  Mr Palmer would  liaise with the community police constable about the problem, council media relations manager Ann Midson said.

"These situations are always complex," Ms Midson said.

"There can be health issues, welfare issues, a whole spectrum of issues ... but we will be working with police and other agencies to see where we can go with this."