Papatoetoe Family Clinic has also upgraded its security doors and gates. Photo: RNZ
A family clinic in the south Auckland suburb of Papatoetoe says it has had to step up security measures amid ongoing disturbances in the area.
At the weekend, a jewellery store owner was hospitalised after a robbery at his store in the same suburb.
He was repeatedly hit in the head with a hammer before his son chased the assailants off with a sword.
Fires near the clinic, public drunkenness, urination, and littering were causing concern for Papatoetoe Family Clinic co-owner Dr Karl Cole.
"Overnight, there are people sleeping in cars, blocking the path," he said.
"And on the street outside, lots of begging and people sleeping on the street.
"So, it's not just Queen Street having the issues that happen on the news, it's happening around all sorts of town centres, and this is one of them."
Cole said the clinic had installed security doors and gates to keep staff and patients safe.
"The last few years we're just making sure there's no one's going down the alleyways or none of the nurses walk to cars by themselves," he said.
"During the weekends, we're careful [...] the front door's got special close-behind-it locks so the staff can go out to where the visible carpark area is.
"And the back area, where we're seeing the Covid patients, the kind of 'red zone', has got a side entrance, and we've had a gate put on there that automatically shuts," said Cole.
Cole said another gate had been installed between the red-zone and interior of the clinic, and was fitted with cameras.
Cole said his clinic did not have cash or drugs to steal, and felt the frustration of past issues had gotten better, though worries still remained.
"I do feel for the jewellery stores and the dairies," he said.
"They really are in a difficult situation."
