Police No-Show At Westfield Mall Protest Cannot Be Explained

Police cannot explain why they did not attend a protest in Westfield Mall. On Boxing Day, a group of vocal protesters moved through the mall on the busy holiday.

PSNA Instagram, 26 December 2023

“The police CAD (computer aided dispatch) system does not show any calls to police in relation to this protest.”

NZ Police

If Police’s claim is true that they were not advised about the protest on the mall grounds, then that raises the question of what action Westfield Mall management in fact took after concerns were raised with them.

NZR

“There was a very vocal demonstration through Westfield Mall, Riccarton Mall,” said a member of the Jewish community.

The protesters were part of a Palestine Solidarity Network Alliance gathering. John Minto is the PSNA’s chair.

“It was, people that were there told me, I was not there…said that was freaky, absolutely freaky,” said the local Israeli. “Suddenly a large number of people, a mob that were walking in…, covered in Palestinian flags, Palestinian colours,… and shouting.”

“In black colour, just marching through the mall, loud, and chanting and chanting the death sentence, ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’. Or ‘Free Palestine’. Free Palestine from whom?”

She said a young Jewish girl working in a shop heard the call and froze, with her manager having to remove her to a backroom.

Police said “they were not informed in advance of the any protest at the Westfield mall” but admitted they could not explain why they had not shown up.

“They are going through the mall and people were uncomfortable with this,” said the local Israeli. “People turned to the management and the management has asked the mob to leave. They did not leave and management has advised that they called the Police.”