"I work at a school and this year's year 9 cohort are the one of the most antisocial in many years. '
"I think the anti-smacking Bill removed probably the only tool in the toolbox that a lot of parents in the community have."
Mr Strange did not comment on the Bill, but talked about the effect of a lack of consequences on youth.
"I used to be a teacher and if the students at a school know there are no consequence then they are likely to just go ahead," Mr Strange said.
"Younger people need boundaries and they do need consequences."
Mayor Andrew King was at the end of some sharp comments from the audience, who were not impressed with his responses at the meeting.
"One of the statements you made tonight was that it was our kids doing the damage, but that is not the impression we are getting as local members of the community," an audience member said.
"We're seeing loads of kids from other areas on their bikes coming over here, stealing our stuff and taking it back to where they came from."
The mayor's reply did not please the crowd.
"You're responsible for your own neighbourhood. This school [Rototuna Junior High] here, is it pure? Does no crime come out of it?" Mayor King said.
"Listen to what your kids are saying and just teach everybody to be responsible and report."
"I apologise if I blamed your kids for doing this but someone is doing this and we all need to be responsible."
Western Community Centre manager Neil Tolan referred to the Dinsdale Call to bring back community police at a crime meeting last year and brought cheers from the crowd when he asked where and when will community constables return.
Mr Strange said that the first step of central government was to add to the resources of the police and then the police will have more options to work with, which included increasing the community policing model.
Deputy Mayor Martin Gallagher raised concerns over the recent dairy attacks and said the city could counter them, referencing one recent attack.
"A wonderful family migrated from India 30 years ago and worked their butts off, and now he has lost his eye.
"One thing they did say was that they have raised with the police about the younger people casing the area,." he said.
"If we have a combo of community constables or community patrols to pass on that information, because to a degree I am not sure if their concerns were originally followed up."
Further meetings could be arranged in other suburbs around Hamilton if they are asked for, he said.
An expected video message from Minister of Police Stuart Nash to the meeting did not eventuate.
He sent a written statement asking Mr Strange to report back on what happened at the Rototuna meeting.
