Police have been knocking on neighbours' doors and sharing a guide on how to oppose a controversial liquor store application in central Wellington.

The city's district licensing committee (DLC) has received 50 applications opposing the application to turn a fruit and vege shop in Aro St into a liquor store – but the owner says the backlash was heightened after police shared the "how to" guide on social media, complete with a photo of her store.

Officers doorknocked businesses around Manjula Patel's Aro Fruit Supply in late May to inform them of her and Vinod Hira's application.

JEFF McEWAN/ CAPTURE STUDIOS Manjula Patel in 2015 at her old store, also in Aro Valley.

Helen Daly, owner of the neighbouring Skin Clinic, said police visited her store late last month, out of the blue, to talk about the application.

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An officer explained the proposal, and said the sale of ready-to-drink alcohol and spirits could lead to higher crime.

LUCY SWINNEN/STUFF Aro Fruit Supply has been a staple of Aro St for at least 20 years, though Patel has owned it only since May last year.

"I thought it was strange that they were spending their time doing this," she said.

The community policing centre shared the "how to" application on social networking site Neighbourly on May 31.

It outlined the grounds for opposing a liquor licence application, and included comments such as: "Get in quick as the clock is ticking".

JIM RICE Opponents of the liquor licence application say there are plenty of places to get booze in Aro St without the fruit and veg store becoming a bottle shop.

The guide included a template letter, with a photo of the store, for objectors to the send to the DLC. Options in the letter included: "I believe the store owner is not appropriate", and "There is a lot of problems related to alcohol in the area already".

Wellington human rights lawyer Michael Bott said it seemed police were acting as a lobby group pushing an agenda, rather than in their statutory function as a neutral enforcer of the law.

"The police are effectively involved in a campaign to drive out small shopkeepers from their ability to sell beer and wine. It shows a level of predetermination on their part by trying to drumbeat a wave of discontentment against shopkeepers amongst the community.

LUCY SWINNEN/STUFF Manjula Patel's two Aro St businesses, which she is planning to expand by converting the fruit and veg shop to a bottle shop.

"The prime movers of alcohol aren't small shopkeepers, but the large supermarkets that sell heavily discounted alcohol. The police are working to help large corporations.

"They have a statutory power of discretion, and this shows they are failing to use that discretion. That could open things up to a judicial review."

Senior Sergeant Derek Orchard, officer in charge of the District Alcohol Harm Prevention Unit, said the police focus was on reducing alcohol-related harm, and the unit was continually in discussions with licensees and partner agencies.

"New Zealand Police are required by law to inquire into the circumstances of individuals or business to see if they are suitable for a liquor licence.

"Where there are concerns about licensees and/or the conditions they operate under, Wellington police will raise the matter with the licensees as well as the DLC."

Dylan Firth, advocacy and policy manager at Hospitality New Zealand, said it would be highly unusual if police were actively seeking opposition to a licence, and an overreach "if they are trying to add weight to the opposition".

Liquor licences were publicly notified through signs on the store and elsewhere, he said. "It is never a secret."

Patel said police visited her as part of routine checks for licence applicants, but it was after community members saw the "how to" guide that she faced more opposition.

Aro Valley resident Brent Efford said he felt "quite outraged, but also betrayed" by the store's liquor application.

Patel had run a dairy in the community for 17 years, and took over the fruit and vege store only in May last year.

Efford opposed the application as there were already plenty of alcohol outlets in the area, and the sale of RTDs would be harmful to the community.

"Replacing a fresh fruit and vegetable retailer with an alcohol outlet is extraordinarily bad symbolism, particularly given the public health issues," he said.

Aro Valley Community Council co-chair Hilary Unwin submitted an application opposing the liquor licence on behalf of the council.