Furious Wellington locals want a mental health facility to move, saying they no longer feel safe after a three-year-old and her father were attacked last week.

The young girl was walking with her father on Exploration Way, in the Porirua suburb of Whitby, when a man allegedly lunged and tried to snatch her.

The father had to grab his daughter and run for help, fighting off the man as he continued trying to grab the 3-year-old.

A 32-year-old man has since been arrested and charged with attempted kidnapping, and two counts of assault.

He has interim name suppression.

A public meeting was held last night, where locals expressed concern about the facility being surrounded to homes and a school.

They told the meeting they're fearful and don't feel safe, after the most serious incident to date relating to the facility.

They say they can remember plenty of others, including more than one occasion when a patient came into their home.

Parents said issues with patients mean their children can no longer play outside, and their doors are kept locked.

They want police background checks of patients brought in as a minimum measure, but ideally want the facility to be closed, saying it's not suitable to be next to homes and a school.