Millionaire Christchurch property owner Antony Gough, who is considered one of the most powerful people in the city was an advocate of stronger security for the Cashel Street mall, particularly the Hack Circle, telling The Press that the people who associate there "are just very scary".
The passage describes Antony Gough's concern about the safety of the Hack Circle and his call for increased security measures due to his perception of those who frequent the area as dangerous.