Tougher penalties are needed to reduce robberies at small businesses rather than public funding to upgrade security measures, Northland dairy owners say.
Their comments followed Police Minister Paula Bennett's announcement in Parliament yesterday that $1.8 million would go towards robbery prevention at dairies, superettes and small local businesses.
Businesses assessed as being high risk will be invited to apply for funding for things like panic and high-volume interior alarms, DNA spray, fog cannons and time safes for cash and storage of cigarettes.
Shop owners will also be given advice on how to change the layout of their shops to make them safer.
Police will fund up to 50 per cent of the cost of security measures and may pay a larger share in exceptional circumstances.