The Rotorua and Tauranga courthouses. Photo / NZME
The Rotorua and Tauranga courthouses. Photo / NZME
A toy gun, live ammunition, methamphetamine, knuckle dusters, nunchaku, three bags of cannabis and a small set of scales are just some of the things people going to court in Rotorua and Tauranga have tried to smuggle through the front door.
A Te Puke lawyer who works in the Tauranga courthouse says the blatant disregard for authority reflects the attitudes they are dealing with, while Rotorua MP Todd McClay says it is time criminals and their supporters heading to court put on their best shirt and shined their shoes because the Government is cracking down on lawlessness.
The Ministry of Justice has confirmed an increase in security incidents in courts nationally, in particular relating to crimes of disorderly behaviour.
Information released under the Official Information Act has revealed the disturbing items security officers have confiscated from visitors to the Tauranga and Rotorua courthouses during the past year.
Between November 1 last year and October 31 this year, court security guards at Rotorua courthouse had to confiscate items — some of which were illegal — from 90 people. In Tauranga during the same period, items were confiscated from 50 people.
Defence lawyer David Pawson said going to court had become a routine rather than a “sense of occasion”.
“It has become normal and routine and some people don’t turn their mind and realise the courts are a place that should be a safe environment.”
Pawson said the public’s attitude to such places had declined in recent years.
“Most lawyers I talk to will say something has happened since Covid, whether it is attitudes towards authority, but there have been increases in hostility towards almost everyone involved in the court process, including lawyers.”
He said the courts weren’t alone and he had even seen a sign at a dental surgery recently that said “Please do not be hostile towards our staff, we are here to help”.
“People just seem to be generally anti-everything. People doing any kind of duty are generally finding it difficult.”
Rotorua MP Todd McClay. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Rotorua MP Todd McClay said the items found by security officers were a sad reflection of the amount of crime around.
He said there was a clear message coming from the Government it would target bad behaviour.
“We are putting the rights of law-abiding citizens before those of criminals.”
He said anyone heading to court should check themselves.
“Clean your shoes, put on your best clothes and go along to court and ask for help. Don’t take weapons and drugs with you because it isn’t going to go well.”
The work of the security officers
Under the Courts Security Act 1999, court security officers have the power to act if they discover potentially dangerous items.
When screening the possessions of a court visitor, they can take into temporary custody any item that could potentially be a weapon and return it to the person when they leave.
If the item is deemed to be prohibited, the item will be seized and the person detained.
That matter is then handed to police.
Ministry of Justice national security operations director Peter Cowan said disorderly behaviour had increased across all counts in New Zealand during the past two years.
He said court security officers took a thorough approach to identifying individuals and situations that might pose security risks.
There are 17 court security officers in Rotorua, including two managers, and there are 18 in Tauranga, including two managers.
Cowan said he expected to see more gang members coming to courts in the coming months as a result of the Gangs Act 2024 that prohibited gang patches and insignia in public.
Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.
