Business Owner and Manager Speak Out About Safety Concerns in the Westfield Mall Food Court
“I’m sure more of these are going to pop all over the mall - the bollards,” says Sam, a veteran worker with decades of customer service experience. He is worried about the “new normal” of criminality in the country as well as the anti-social behaviour he has witnessed coming from gangs of young people moving about the Westfield Mall and the violence that he has seen spark off between them. He doesn’t think trespassing them works and wants the mall to take a “tougher” stance. Sam’s concerns about safety in the food court were shared by his boss Kelly, who has about 6 years with the business and works there a few days a week.
From their store, Sam and Kelly have a bird’s eye view of the behaviour of young people walking the mall and the security and Police response. They have offered their opinion on the state of play on the safety of the area on the condition that their identities remain secret. Their names have been changed and some details have been omitted.
Kelly’s story
“In Kelly’s view, the mall security cannot do anything to deal with crime, because the offenders are young people. He cited an incident in which Sam pursued an offender who had stolen items”
Kelly thought the food court area was unsafe. He said the Police visit the area every day, at least twice a day and that criminal behaviour has been occurring in the vicinity every day. This cannot be independently verified, and the mall hasn’t confirmed the frequency of Police callouts or visits.
Kelly felt that in return for paying high rents, he wasn’t receiving anything in return from the mall in terms of security. Because of his concerns, he has added several cameras to his store. In Kelly’s view, the mall security couldn’t do anything to deal with crime, because the offenders are young people. He cited an incident in which Sam pursued an offender who had stolen items (see his story below).
He also had concerns about his safety outside the mall. He said he encountered a homeless person who threatened them physically after he refused to provide cigarette(s).
The emotional strain showed on Kelly when asked whether he will sell their business. The Wigram has asked the mall what work it is doing to support the mental well-being of business owners and employees. It has not responded. The mall was also asked what proportion of mall business rent and charges go towards security or other support services provided or offered to those businesses. It has not responded to that either.
During our discussion, Kelly encourages me to speak with Sam the manager.
Sam’s Story
“Well, there’s less, there’s definitely less people in the mall to buy stuff I think, like, at times.”
“A normal day,” says Sam, “would be to come to work, have a, I always come a bit early, buy a coffee, sit down and enjoy it. Then head to the shop and…there from 8:30 to…o’clock. Or a night shift/evening shift when the mall’s late night.”
“Customer face? Yup that’s right. Basically, I’m there waiting for anyone to come. if there’s any questions about our products, they’ll choose what they like, and I’ll make it for them.”
Sam likes to think he is a good judge of character of the people coming in. “So far in my life I have been, yeah,” he says.
In his opinion, since the pandemic, the financial climate has changed. “Oh COVID. Definitely financially, I think, people are hurting. I don’t. There’s too many reasons, I guess. But it doesn’t. Well, there’s less, there’s definitely less people in the mall to buy stuff I think, like, at times.”
Young People and the Food Court
“Well, there’s always going to be confrontation” between these gangs. “Like someone wants to hit the other person or. But the problem is in the food court you’ve got people sitting at tables and you’ve got these kids who are going to have flying fists and that,” says Sam.
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