Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown wants to see tougher consequences for crime as residents and shop owners in the CBD say robberies and violence are getting worse.
Inner city residents and businesses are raising concerns over regular issues of violence and intimidation in the inner city, which they say is putting people off from visiting.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell told AM on Thursday he wants to see "police on the beat again" to help keep Aucklanders safe.
"The reality of it is the country has been dealing with this (crime increase) for two or three years," Mitchell told AM newsreader Nicky Styris.
"Unfortunately, it is happening. It's something that society has thrown up at the moment. The police I think have had a very strong response.
"Having [police] back out on the beat and highly visible is something that I asked the Commissioner as the incoming government, that can we get police back on the beat forming relationships with our shopkeepers and our retailers, gathering intelligence, knowing who is causing the problems in communities, being highly visible and giving public reassurance."
Mitchell is meeting with Mayor Brown later on Friday to discuss the issue.
Speaking with AM on Friday morning, Brown said he wants to see tougher consequences for criminals.
"I think the justice department and those overpaid judges need to be a bit tougher. We constantly read about people who do terrible things and end up with pathetic sort of whacks on the hand. I'm not happy about that either. There has to be a sanction for crime."
Brown also called for a "multi-agency response" saying a lot of the people causing issues are dealing with mental health issues.
He went on to reveal his own encounter with someone who shouted at and harassed him recently. He said the man was "completely balmy as well as being dangerous" and called for more government support for the city.
Watch the full interview with Wayne Brown below. If you can't see it on your Newshub app, click here.
