In a move potentially bringing relief to many embattled dairy stores owners at high risk of aggravated crime, the government has decided to pump more money for installing safety measures.
The previous National government had announced a $1.8m subsidy in June 2017 for the installation of devices like audible alarms, fog cannons, and DNA spray in premises identified by Police as high risk.
The scheme required businesses to contribute 50 per cent of the cost.
The new Police Minister Stuart Nash was undertaking a review of the mode of distribution of that subsidy to the target small businesses.
Today the Minister has announced a major relief for small business owners by offering to share further the financial cost of installing security measures.
This was revealed in a media release from the office of the new Police Minister.
“I was concerned to learn that many shop owners declined to take part in the scheme because the costs were prohibitive.
“The previous scheme required businesses to contribute 50 per cent of the cost, but that was beyond the reach of many.
“A fog cannon can cost around $4,000, while a DNA spray system can be more than $3,000 and an audible alarm can be around $1700.
“I have reviewed the way this fund is allocated and decided that greater financial support is needed to make this a viable option for the most at-risk business owners.
“Many of these businesses, such as dairies and superettes, have only very small profit margins and were facing a potential bill of several thousand dollars for these crime prevention tools,” Mr Nash said.
“The government has increased the subsidy so at-risk business owners will contribute no more than $250 towards the cost of a fog cannon,” Mr Nash announced.
This is a fraction of the bill they faced previously.
The government is encouraging all eligible shop owners to take advantage of the changes to this scheme.
Already a further 17 stores have installed the fog cannons during December and January, while eight more are awaiting fit-out.
“The original scheme was well-intentioned but imposed too many barriers on those businesses who needed it most. This is a more pragmatic and workable solution which makes better use of the existing fund,” Mr Nash said.
Shereen Agastya, the owner of dairy store Mall Convenience Onehunga, which has faced two break-ins in the past six months, was excited about the financial relief offered by the government to fund the installation of security measures.
“This is indeed great news. We will soon be putting up our application to secure this funding help to installation security measures,” Ms Agastya told The Indian Weekender.
Welcoming the news of increased funding support for installation of security measures, Kharag Singh, owner of four-square store in South Auckland, emphasised the need for fully-subsidising and educating small business owners that such funding exists at the first place.
“While the decision to increase subsidy is welcome, I would like to appeal the government to make it fully subsidised as the cost of security installation is very prohibitive.
“There is also need to fully publicise that such funding support exists in the first place,” Mr Singh told The Indian Weekender.