Cr Benedict Ong. PHOTO: ODT FILES Benedict Ong says he has contacted police over serious concerns for his safety after a man allegedly ripped down his home security cameras. The Dunedin city councillor said the alleged intrusion yesterday morning followed an earlier, unrelated incident when a man threatened him with a baton. ‘‘With the physical and online threats I have encountered both recently and from last year on very rare occasions, I am generally highly concerned on my personal safety,’’ Cr Ong said. Police were unable to comment yesterday, citing reasons of privacy. Councillors met yesterday for a full council meeting which began at 9am. Cr Ong said it was at this time his security cameras recorded a man, with a cap pulled down over his face, entering his property from the street. ‘‘From all that the footage has, he’s just pulled off two of the cameras, and then just, I don’t know what else from that point afterwards.’’ He said he discovered the damage when he left the meeting after the lunch break and returned home, where he planned to join the meeting online. He intended to lodge a police report on the matter. ‘‘I am perfectly fine and need to ensure my personal safety to ensure I can always serve our community.’’ Cr Ong said he had contacted police regarding two earlier incidents, including what he alleged was an ‘‘attempt of physical violence on me while driving’’ near his home. ‘‘That’s a case where I’m driving, there’s someone that’s trailing behind. He has sped past the speed limit, overtook me, braked his car, and come out with a baton at me.’’ Cr Ong said he filmed the other driver and, paraphrasing, said to him: ‘‘Do you want to be viewed countrywide and possibly by millions of individuals?’’ ‘‘And then after that, I drove to the left side of the road, I squeezed through, and I think he got the message with my camera held in front of his face that he would be viewed countrywide.’’ He described this matter as unrelated to yesterday’s incident. ‘‘It’s always my last recourse to call the police,’’ Cr Ong said. ‘‘There has been instance where, very simply, I know what I have to do to keep myself safe. ‘‘I believe elected members, the same as anyone on the council table, each of us do know.’’ Last year, Local Government New Zealand launched a ‘‘how to stay safe’’ guide for elected members, detailing how they could protect their privacy, keep safe in public and at home, minimise harmful interaction on social media, report abuse and harassment and access support networks and counselling services. The organisation said it followed an increase of online and in-person abuse and harassment of elected members. ruby.shaw@odt.co.nz
