Nearly 10 years after two Ministry of Social Development (MSD) workers were killed at their office in Ashburton, 1News can reveal that $65 million has been spent on improving the safety of sites.
The September 2014 incident saw two workers at the WINZ Ashburton office murdered by homeless man Russell John Tully.
In the aftermath, WorkSafe made several recommendations to the ministry to improve security measures for staff and clients.
Inside each of the revamped offices are saferooms, where staff and clients can shelter when lockdowns occur.
“The events in Ashburton changed us forever as a ministry,” MSD deputy chief executive, operational assurance and communication, Melissa Gill, said.
Since then, the ministry has spent nearly $65 million on revamps to all MSD sites across the country.
1News has now had an exclusive tour of a revamped and secure MSD office. It includes quiet private spaces for clients and staff to chat, as well as security officers stationed at every office.
The revamps come at a time when assaults on staff and security have been rising.
In 2019, there were 19 assaults, increasing by 89% to 36 last year. So far this year, there have been 25, with a total of 143 in the last five years.
Lockdowns part of life
Gill said weekly lockdowns were a part of life at some offices.
“We may receive a threat over the phone, to come to a site. The site would enter into a precautionary lockdown that would involve us closing the site for a temporary period,” she said.
“We work very closely with our colleagues in the police.”
She believed the saferooms have “definitely made a difference” in how the offices operated.
“Our clients are regularly asked how they find our new work environments. They say that it’s really welcoming in that front of house area, and they really enjoy the privacy afforded to them,” she said.
The Ministry said there had been a reduction in serious incidents, even if the number of assaults was increasing.
Public Service Association organiser Kathy Higgins, who was the union delegate for the workers at the time, said it was “the worst day of my working life – ever”.
“It was just horrendous.”
She was worried the number of assaults would increase.
“The Government has imposed some tough sanctions on people who are already doing it tough, and our members are bearing the brunt of that,” she said.
