Public Toilets: Not the place to go for hookups Hawkes Bay Police have been dealing with a number of public complaints in regards to the use of the Lee Road Public Toilets in Taradale Napier, as a meeting place for men for sex. Police are stepping up surveillance in the area as several business owners have laid a number of complaints with the Napier CIB, and are warning men who frequent the area to discontinue their activity. This sort of situation is rare in the Hawkes Bay, but of late, reported activity has been increasing around public toilets being used as meeting places for sexual activity. On Sunday 19th July a police unit staked out the area and were alarmed at what they came across. "We were there for about 90 minutes and in that time seven or eight men arrived," said Detective Phil Sayers of Napier CIB. "They would pull up and go in but then quickly come out again.'' Sayers said that men would drive off and come back after a short time, until there was someone else to meet there. The stakeout was from 2.30pm Sunday Police are warning those people that their behaviour is inappropriate for a public place, and there are concerns for safety given the recent media attention around this. Speaking with the Diversity Liason Officer in Napier, GayNZ.com were told "There definitely is potential for a homophobic person or persons to arrange attacks on these men who frequent the toilets. While homosexuality exists all over New Zealand, this behaviour is unacceptable in a public place. Families and children use these facilities, and they are in full view of restaurants and other businesses". Police have begun noting car registrations and are considering to re-angle surveillance cameras to identify people with suspicious behaviour.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 29th July 2009 - 2:33pm