Officer's skill commended

City Safe's Hoki Witute (left) and Gail Lewis are a familiar sight in Whangarei's central city. Photo / John Stone

Whangarei's City Safe officers will receive more training after one trying to break up an argument was punched in the face.

A female City Safe officer moved to separate a drunk woman and her partner fighting on Cameron St Mall when the woman attacked her.

The officer was bruised following the October 15 incident, which happened just after midnight, and took one day off work to recover.

CCTV recorded the incident and the attacker was arrested.

However the safety track record of the City Safe project - a collaboration between local police, Whangarei District Council and Northland Chamber of Commerce - was good, with just one assault since patrols began in 2007.

WDC had a $218,000 contract with Northern Districts Security, which supplied two City Safe community officers during the day from Monday to Saturday and four officers from midnight to 4am on weekends.

WDC audit and risk committee chairwoman Sharon Morgan said all officers received general security training and their employer was investigating further training off the back of the October assault.

City Safe officers were warranted to enforce bylaws and could issue fines.

"They are a great team, security trained, who have developed really good relationships with the people who spend time in the mall, pass through it and work there," said Cr Morgan. "They know how to spot a problem, defuse it themselves or contact police."

One of the team, Hoki Witute, received commendations this month from the mayor and police when he tackled a knife-wielding youth to the ground and prevented him from harming others.

Cr Morgan, whose committee received reports on council staff safety once every three months, said WDC's direct risk-management and the safety of contractor staff were slightly different issues.

The report this month listed attacks on frontline customer service staff and the robbery of cashiers as among the riskiest parts of council's business, alongside noise-control staff.

"Our frontline staff have also received personal safety training," Cr Morgan said.