A gang conflict warrant has been extended to Hawke’s Bay.
Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Four gang members have been arrested and several search warrants executed, after two instances of violence in Hawke’s Bay earlier this week.
A gang conflict warrant was extended to the region, after an assault on Riverbend Road in Napier on Thursday and a grievous assault on Omahu Road in Hastings on Friday.
The warrant gives officers power to search suspected gang members’ cars and seize weapons.
Inspector Dean Clifford said the last 24 hours had been busy.
Police inspector Dean Clifford.
Photo: Supplied/ Police
“Police executed two search warrants and the gang conflict warrant on four occasion across Napier and Hastings, and this has resulted in the arrest of four Mongrel Mob members.”
Enquiries continued into the two events and officers would remain in the area, while they were carried out, Clifford said.
“The action overnight was part of our response to recent gang violence in the Hawke’s Bay area and reinforces our message that we won’t be letting up.”
The four men have been charged with a raft of offences, including possession of methamphetamine, possession of an offensive weapon and receiving stolen property.
All are expected to appear in the Hastings District Court over the coming days.
The victims of the two assaults continued to recover and police were still pursuing the inquiry, Clifford said.
“The investigation is sensitive, but the warrants that were executed have opened up new lines of enquiry and we’ll be acting on that information.”
Police were also in ongoing dialogue with local gang leaders in an effort to de-escalate tensions.
“Members of our communities have a right to feel safe and be safe. The recent events are concerning, and that’s why we will continue to have extra staff and a visible presence across the Hawke’s Bay, while this is resolved.”
This morning, Napier deputy mayor Annette Brosnan said she trusted the police to do what they needed to keep people safe and gang leaders needed to do the same.
“We need to find a way where we are not pitting young people against each other, no matter in what setting that is and certainly in gangs, where they have access to deadly weapons, like we saw on Thursday night,” she said.
“What we need to be saying as a community is to call on our gang leadership to really take responsibility to reduce the harm and redirect our young people back towards community, back towards whānau and not that sort of violent crime that we are seeing pop up.”
Every city deserved peace and justice, she said.
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