Nelson meeting calls for curbs on gangs

Press, 19 January 1979, Page 3

Nelson meeting calls for curbs on gangs

PA Nelson A turbulent public meeting in Nelson has called on the Government to announce plans to control confrontations “between antisocial groups throughout New Zealand.” The call came at the end, of a three-hour public forum; on motor-cycle gangs, on Wednesday evening. At least 200 people, 'in- i eluding members of Nelson’s Lost Breed gang, packed the small hall to air a wide range of opinions and attitudes towards gangs. '• Five resolutions were! passed: — An expression of concern about the confrontation between “anti-social groups throughout New Zealand” and a call on the Government to take immediate action. It asked the Opposition parties to give the Government their full support. — A request that the Nelson City Council investigate the possibilities of creating alternatives to deal with anti-social behaviour, including the establishment of work co-operatives and the possible establishment of detached youth workers as provided for under Government schemes. — A plea for the council to enforce its own by-laws. — An endorsement of the 'existing police policy of pro-

viding shadow patrols for mobile groups. —A note of dissatisfaction to the Minister of police over the “apparent discrimination in favour of mobile groups by the authorities in respect of certain offences committed.” A Nelson city councillor, Mr Peter Malone, said he lemphasised that the meeting | was not “an emotional bandI waggon” set up after the brawl at the city’s mardi gras. “It would have been held anyway,” he said, “to report to the citizens of Nelson problems with a group who, las a group, act as louts and I larrikins, who have scant regard for the truth, who totally disregard the rights of others and the rules you and I are required to abide by, and whose anti-social behaviour typifies the image bikie gangs have built of themselves.” Senior representatives of the Police and Ministry of Transport attending the discussion heard strong criticism of their departments’ attitudes and policies towards motor-cycle gangs. One Tahuna shopkeeper said that members of the Highway 6> gang had “terrorised” the suburb during their stay, in spite of the presence of five police surveillance cars. “The police did nothing,” he said. He maintained that

other shop-owners had not attended the meeting because of fear of reprisals. ; Allegations were made ■ that some service-station owners had been asked not to antagonise gang members. The head of the Nelson police district, Chief Superintendent J. A. McCarthy, replied that he knew nothing of the allegations, but would . discuss the matters if they . were raised outside the meeting “through the norma! channels.” A Lost Breed spokesman also gave specific complaints against the Highway 6! gang. The group, he told the meeting, had camped illegally on the back beach, had driven through red lights and double-parked in a city street without action being taken by the Police or Miniistry of Transport. Chief Inspector I. L. Mills, of police headquarters, Wellington, made a strong defence of the surveillance policy. “The main purpose of these patrols is to provide additional support for the police in isolated rural areas if trouble arises. “Once the mobile groups arrive in an area such as Nelson, the situation is handled by the district commander. It is our experience during the last few years that there has been a reduction in. gang offences by mo- . bile groups."