Members of the Indian and Chinese communities met with the government this afternoon to demand action on crime.

Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

Crime Prevention Group president Sunny Kaushal said they were concerned about rising crime in New Zealand.

"Especially on the hard working shop owners and the workers, it's going totally out of control. The communities are fed up."

Mr Kaushal said the delegation would meet with the Ministers of Police, Small Business, Ethnic Affairs, and Justice.

"It's quite a high-powered ministerial delegation ... we are going to present an eight point memorandum."

The group wants:

Harsher penalties for assault and aggravated robbery

An increase in police officers and re-opened stations in the suburbs and regions

Parents to be held accountable for their children's actions

Shop owners to have the right to defend themselves

A hold on further tax increases on cigarettes

A Work for the Dole scheme for people to be trained as security guards to patrol shopping areas

The establishment of a working group to make recommendations