'Of you see anything, report it”. This is the message from Tauranga Police following a rise in complaints around criminal activity in the Arataki area.

'Police are aware of a number of disorder-related incidents in the Arataki area recently, and acknowledge that these can be concerning to locals,” Tauranga Police Senior Constable Dennis Bidois told SunLive on Monday.

'We are aware of who is involved in much of this offending and are working hard to hold those responsible to account. However, it's important to note that reports on social media do not always paint an accurate picture of what is happening on the ground.

'Our staff regularly patrol areas of demand to help prevent incidents from occurring and provide community reassurance.

'We are working closely with local iwi and community to help make sure everyone is safe and feels safe, and will be attending the public meeting on Wednesday.”

A public meeting will be held on Wednesday night at the Arataki Community Centre so that members of the public can discuss the situation and look at options for resolving it.

Meeting coordinator Diane Bennett wants the meeting to be solution-focused and has also invited representatives from Police, Tauranga City Council, iwi, Bayfair Shopping Centre and Maori wardens.

The ‘Make Arataki Safe Again' meeting will be held at the Arataki Community Centre on Wednesday December 16 at 7pm.

In a post on the Bay of Plenty Police Facebook, people are being encouraged to keep the community safe by reporting any suspicious or criminal activity.

'To report a crime call 111 if it's happening now, or use 105 if it's already happened. You can also report online at 105.police.govt.nz.”