Gang case big task

Press, 26 March 1979, Page 6

Gang case big task

PA Auckland One hundred and eight gang members will appear in the Magistrate’s Court at Auckland today. The task of getting them there and keeping an eye on them will be a big job for the police. The prisoners — 39 Headhunters and 69 Black Power members — spent most of the week-end in custody at the Auckland Centra! Police Station after one of the biggest police actions of its kind in Auckland. The arrests were made during Saturday afternoon after a series of incidents prompted by an attack on a small group of Black Power members drinking at an Otahuhu hotel about 1 p.m. In the fighting a man lost the sight of one of his eyes

and another suffered a fractured skull. More than 100 policemen, including members of the police task force and armed offenders squad, were called in and with the help of local contractors and Auckland traffic officers cordoned off several streets in Panmure. The two gangs had congregated at two houses within the barricaded area. The police decided to arrest all of them on charges of unlawful assembly. Two hours later the gang members were in custody at the Auckland Central Police Station, stretching cell accommodation there to its limits. The Headhunters w r ere put in the women’s section and the Black Power members filled in the men’s block and day rooms. Most of the prisoners slept

Saturday night and last night three to a cell. There were plenty of mattresses and blankets to go round. Caterers at the police barracks had no difficulty coping with the extra “customers” and there was plenty of time yesterday for escorted exercise at the police gymnasium. The police would have preferred a special court sitting at the gymnasium or the central station viewing room but the Justice Department decided that the official court room should be used. It is believed that police buses and vans will be used to take groups of gang members to the court at various times during the day. A special team will be used for the job and the policemen will take special care to keep rival gang members apart.