Two Ricon Security guards have been hired by Wellington City Council for "peace of mind" at Wellington Railway Station.

Security guards have been moved into Wellington Railway Station after workers complained of feeling threatened by rough sleepers and beggars.

Wellington City Council confirmed two guards would patrol the subway section between the railway station and bus station from 4am to 7pm, when the subway was open to the public.

"Last week one of our cleaning contractors contacted us and told us they were feeling threatened due to homeless people congregating at the interchange," council spokesman Clayton Anderson said.

ROSS GIBLIN/ FAIRFAX NZ A guard patrols after cleaners complained of being threatened by homeless people in the subway.

"They [the guards] are there to provide some peace of mind to the cleaners and the public."



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The guards could ask to people to move on, but unless they were breaking the law they could not force them to, he said.

But councillor Paul Eagle said he had been told by staff within the council that the security guards had been "aggressive".

"That is certainly not the preferred approach that councillors approved only a month ago."

Eagle had put forward a recommendation on Wednesday during Annual Plan deliberations for a further $100,000 to help with the management of beggars and the homeless, but it was rejected.

The council said it would be looking into Eagle's claims.

Gabi Martin, who works at the drycleaner's inside the station, said one busker in particular had been "really abusive".

"Especially when they're drunk. The buskers threaten people.

"I haven't seen him for a while, he was supposed to be trespassed.

"Some of them are beggars and some of them are homeless."

She said the same thing happened every winter – there would be a surge of beggars and homeless people inside the station seeking out a warm, dry place.

"You notice it as well even if it's just raining outside."

She had noticed the extra security only in the past few days, and said she had seen fewer vagrants as a result.

Two security guards were in the passageway at the station early on Thursday evening, but there were no homeless people or beggars to be found.

A Ricon Security guard said Thursday was her first day working at the station, and she had not encountered anyone she needed to move on.

"The worst I've had is kids who come flying down [the passageway] darting in and out of people.

"As far as I'm aware, we were instructed just to move them on, anyone threatening, anyone smoking."

Wellington Night Shelter Trust chairman John Kennedy-Good said the shelter had been operating at 85 per cent capacity over the past few months.

"There is still an option for these people to come to the night shelter. Each one will be different, each has their own story to tell and their own circumstances, the reasons for why they may be sleeping rough."

The subway section of the station is the responsibility of Wellington City Council, while other parts of the building are owned by KiwiRail, the Greater Wellington Regional Council, and the city council.

The three organisations are to meet next week to discuss the issue of homeless people finding shelter in the station.