Bank union calls for 'overdue' review of security

ASB's St Lukes branch was one of several banks to have been robbed recently. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Security in banks has not been upgraded in a decade, says the financial workers' union, which is hoping to meet banks this week to review measures after a surge in teller robberies in Auckland.

The review will look at international best practices and assess any perceived shortfalls in security arrangements, as well as give staff an avenue to suggest improvements in branch security.

"Very often staff are actually in a very good position to identify where those security improvements could lie," Finsec spokesman Andrew Campbell said yesterday.

Mr Campbell was drafting a letter to go out to banks, requesting their attendance at a meeting this week. He said he had spoken to several bank workers concerned about the spate of aggravated robberies.

"They are very aware that there has been an increase in the number of hold-ups and robberies ... That is certainly a worry for them."

Two more robberies occurred at the weekend, and yesterday police arrested an 18-year-old youth in connection with both raids and with another last Tuesday.

The youth is expected to appear in the Auckland District Court today.

Tuesday's robbery occurred at the Kiwibank/Post Shop on Dominion Rd, where it is alleged he threatened to produce a gun and demanded cash.

The first of the weekend robberies occurred at the ASB in St Lukes Mall about 9am on Saturday, when he is alleged to have fled with more than $3000.

Police claim he struck again mid-morning yesterday at the National Bank in Newmarket, before being stopped in a vehicle about an hour later.

Detective Sergeant Jason McIntosh of Avondale CIB said police were not yet drawing a link with other, unsolved robberies.

He and a team of detectives are investigating the robberies, and it is understood intelligence analysts throughout Greater Auckland are assessing data to try to spot any links or patterns in offending.

Meanwhile, banks say they constantly review security practices.

Virginia Stracey-Clitherow, spokeswoman for ANZ National, said customer and staff safety was an absolute priority and all branch personnel received security training.

She said armed hold-ups could be very distressing for both staff and customers and a range of measures were in place to provide support.

Ms Stracey-Clitherow said the bank would look at procedures this week.

Westpac spokesman Craig Dowling echoed her sentiments. He said staff held up by armed robbers were sometimes moved into a different position for a time and were offered counselling and other support.