Karen Ritchie at last night's public meeting People in the Auckland glbti communities must now act on concerns about violence in the Karangahape Road area, according to one of the organisers of last night's public meeting to air concerns and pool ideas in the face of heightened violence against gays in the k Rd area. Around 50 people attended last night's meeting, at which the apparently increasing frequency of attacks on gay men in particular and associated concerns were voiced. "As a community we've got to keep this going, we've got to make this change," says Karen Ritchie of the Cartier Trust. She says that following last night's meeting a committee "of maybe half a dozen glbti community" people is likely to be formed "so they can sit down and nut out where our moves need to be." Ritchie feels initial action will include taking the concerns higher up the police chain of command and working more closely with local list MP Jacinda Adern to increase politicians' awareness of the problem. "We need to work with organisations and people and to see what changes can be made such as more policing," Ritchie says. "We need to identify which are the worst streets of areas for violence against gays, list who was attacked where and then find solutions." Suggestions include a regular booze bus "stopping boozed 3am arrivals who flock to the K' Rd area after their suburban bars have closed," Ritchie says. Ritchie herself has been accompanying late night police patrols in the Karangahape Road area, most recently between 10.30pm and 1.30am. "It was a good experience to see the police officers looking in all the nooks and crannies for people drinking in cars," she says. "I'll be going out with them again soon, hopefully at a different time of the night."
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 27th February 2013 - 9:57am