Rotorua's inner-city constable

Constable Pete Riordan wants to help prevent crime in the inner city. Photo/Stephen Parker

An inner-city police officer has been appointed in a bid to make people feel safer in the Rotorua CBD.

Constable Pete Riordan is the new community constable for the inner city, based in the City Focus. He is the first officer to take on the role in several years.

Mr Riordan said there was a demand for a community constable in the area and he hoped his presence would deter crime and make people feel safe.

The safety of the area has been in question following a series of fights and concerns about youths loitering in the CBD. Last month, the Rotorua Daily Post reported a brawl had erupted in the city centre, which involved up to 20 young people.

Shop owners, pedestrians and visitors to the inner city will now have someone to go to if they see anything suspicious or concerning, he said.

"I hope that I can be a face for people to talk to and people feel reassured knowing that I'm there to help if they need me."

He encouraged people to report to him if they encountered any incidents in the city centre.

"Sometimes people might witness a crime, but won't go to the police station to report it.

"This way they can come straight to me."

Mr Riordan said while his presence was a step towards making the city centre crime-free, it needed to be a team effort. He will be working with Rotorua District Council's City Safe Guardians, who will be eyes and ears for the police, businesses and the community.

"Everyone needs to look out for each other. It's a community effort, making the CBD as safe as possible."

Mr Riordan has about 20 years' experience in the police.

The manager of a central city business, who did not want to be named, said having a police officer with so much experience in the CBD will go a long way to helping prevent crime in the area. "I think it's absolutely brilliant. We used to have one [an inner city community constable] and it's about time we had another one," she said.

"We really need a community constable here, the City Focus isn't safe without one. It's going to help so much just having that police presence. I can't wait to meet him."