How the Newmarket Business Association Built a Gold-Standard Public-Private Safety Partnership

About the Association

Newmarket Business Association is a Business Improvement District representing one of Auckland, New Zealand’s most significant commercial and retail precincts.

Funded by property owners and developed through partnerships with local government and the private sector, the organization focuses on economic development, advocacy, placemaking, and public safety.

As retail crime became a growing concern, the association expanded its role and created a dedicated security operation focused on protecting businesses, employees, residents, and visitors.

The Challenge

Prior to 2022, Newmarket’s security model lacked formal structure and visibility. Security services were outsourced, reporting was minimal, and there was no reliable way to measure performance or trends.

At the same time, external pressures like pandemic-related disruption - including increased emergency housing; and shifting offender patterns led to a noticeable rise in retail crime. Business owners wanted more support, better visibility, and faster response.

The organization needed reliable data before it could determine where to invest. “We had no way of tracking anything. I had no reporting, and we didn’t know what we didn’t know,” said Mark Knoff-Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Newmarket.

The Solution: Integrating Technology and a Private/Public Security Partnership

Bringing Security In-House

In February 2023, Newmarket Business Association launched Newmarket Security and brought operations under direct management.

The new team included mobile patrol officers dedicated to the precinct and a communications operator responsible for monitoring cameras, coordinating incidents, and supporting field personnel. The security team balances a strong physical presence with a community-focused approach, helping build trust with retailers and visitors alike. Over time, the team scaled from two to six full-time personnel.

Building an Intelligence Foundation with Auror

Auror became the organization’s primary intelligence and reporting platform.

The system allowed the team to document incidents consistently, identify repeat offenders, analyze theft patterns, and track recovery outcomes. The resulting data gave leadership a clearer understanding of criminal activity across the precinct and created stronger reporting for the board.

“Auror gave me really good data to build new business cases for my board,” said Knoff-Thomas.

Expanding Visibility with Axon Body Cameras and Fusus

As the security operation matured, Newmarket deployed Axon Body Cameras, followed soon after by Fusus.

Body-worn video improved evidence collection and accountability while providing officers with additional support during incidents. Fusus connected body camera footage with the broader camera network, creating a more complete operational picture. These new tech tools complemented the existing ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras and further enhanced the overall security solution.

The technology improved both real-time response and post-incident investigations.

Integrating Operations with Police

A defining element of the Newmarket model is its close relationship with New Zealand Police.

The association’s communications operator works inside the local police station in an open-plan environment alongside police personnel. Security radios are carried in local police vehicles, creating direct communication channels during active incidents.

The partnership allows information to move quickly while maintaining appropriate privacy and operational safeguards. “It’s just been this beautiful harmony of tools being brought together,” Knoff-Thomas explained.

Results

300% Increase in Arrest Outcomes

The first major improvement came through better intelligence and information sharing.

According to Knoff-Thomas, arrest outcomes increased to nearly 300% of previous levels after the introduction of Auror, Axon Body Cameras and Axon Fusus. This means that, when stores call to report a crime, the security team is three times more likely to find the suspect and partner with New Zealand police to make an arrest.

Nearly $500,000 in Recovered Stock

Although the team had no way of tracking this in the beginning, recovered merchandise has become one of the program’s most visible measures of success.

With Auror, the team recognized about $8,000 per month in stock being recovered. After integrating the Axon technology, they increased average stock recovery to approximately $15,000 per month.

In total, since launching Newmarket Security, the team has recovered nearly half a million dollars in stolen goods. For retailers, those recoveries represent direct protection of revenue and inventory. For shoppers and residents, it means a safer, more enjoyable experience.

Faster Response Across the Precinct

Businesses have access to a dedicated security number operating seven days a week. Calls route directly to the communications center located inside the police station. From there, incidents are assessed, cameras are activated, and mobile patrol officers are dispatched. This has dramatically improved response times for the security team.

“In reality, we can respond and get one of our officers there within two to three minutes,” said Knoff-Thomas. If the situation escalates, police are close by. With better visibility and coordination, the team has significantly improved enforcement outcomes.

Expanded Precinct Coverage

The association also worked with local property owners to establish delegated trespass authority across most of the district.

Today, approximately 98% of Newmarket is covered under the program, allowing security personnel to respond more consistently when businesses need assistance managing repeat offenders and disruptive behavior.

Improved Investigations Through Technology

The combination of Fusus, body cameras, and the camera network has significantly improved investigative capabilities.

In one case, the team used AI-assisted search capabilities to locate a vehicle connected to a retail theft. After identifying the vehicle and tracing it to an address, police made arrests, recovered stolen property, and identified an additional individual with an outstanding warrant.

In another case, investigators used the camera network to trace an arson suspect’s movements through the precinct, helping police identify and charge the offender.

Information moves quickly between stakeholders, creating stronger situational awareness and more coordinated responses. The model has attracted attention from other districts throughout New Zealand looking for practical approaches to improving public safety and retail crime outcomes.

The integrated model enables rapid deployment, often faster than traditional policing response. “We respond to almost every job in less than five minutes,” said Knoff-Thomas. Live video and radio communication ensure that both security and police have immediate situational awareness.

Not only that, but the rapid response time makes it much easier, and much faster, for lost stock to be returned to retailers. “Our team recovered and returned about $35,000 worth of stolen stock back to retailers last month,” Knoff-Thomas said.

This metric has become a powerful indicator of success for retailers in the district, attracting more businesses to Newmarket.

Conclusion and Looking Ahead

The Minister of Police has referred to Newmarket Security as “the gold standard model” for public-private collaboration.

Newmarket Business Association partnered with local police to create a security program that combines intelligence, visibility, and operational coordination. The organization now has stronger data, faster response capabilities, improved evidence collection, and measurable outcomes that support local businesses and the broader community.

Looking ahead, the team is evaluating additional AI-enabled capabilities such as weapon detection and crowd behavior analysis. Those tools may further improve situational awareness and help security personnel identify emerging risks earlier.

As retail crime continues to challenge communities globally, Newmarket has demonstrated that even a smaller, resource-constrained organization can build a highly effective safety model through partnership and smart use of technology.

For Knoff-Thomas, the results have already validated the investment: “It has been the single greatest thing I’ve done in my career.”