Special attention to gangs

Press, 7 September 1981, Page 6

Special attention to gangs

PA Auckland The police are expected to have special intelligence teams working in Auckland this week reporting on the strength and movement. of gang members as the buildup starts to the final Springbok rugby test. The head of the Auckland police. Assistant Commissioner E. J. Trappitt, would make no comment yesterday. But it is believed that the police “Operation Rugby” strategists want full details on the present activities of Auckland gangs. They are concerned about the emergence of Maori, gang members in the front line of the anti-tour movement and want to prepare for the likelihood of more, violence at the test next Saturday. Much of the violence out-

side Eden Park during the match between the Springboks and Auckland on Saturday came in clashes between the police and a comparatively small group of protesters, which included about 30 Maori gang members. The gang members marched from Fowlds Park with about 1500 other demonstrators in a group dubbed Patu. A Maori dictionary gives the meaning of “patu” as “strike, beat, thrash, subdue.” ' Mr Trappitt said yesterday: “It is very difficult to reconcile the naming of a strike group like that with the avowed intention of the organisers for peaceful demonstration. It is provocative and no doubt intended to be intimidating.” Mr Trappitt said he did not t’jink that the linking of

Maori gang members to the “strike” group was coincidental. The group “obviously meant business.” Gangs had said in the past that they had rejected political overtures, he said, and so perhaps they saw the march as an opportunity to strike back at the police. “They would not have reason to like the police particularly.” Mr Trappitt said he was “quite concerned” about the involvement of Maori gangs in the anti-tour movement. “This is a feature we do not want,” he said. “It is artificial.” . Some people in the movement were “manipulating young minds" and the police would-be “asking questions of some people.” If there was enough evidence, people could be charged with '"inducing" protesters to insti-

gate or join violent situations. The Commissioner of Police (Mr R. J. Walton) said last evening that he was also concerned about the presence of gangs during the Auckland protest. “I certainly agree with the view that they are not so concerned about apartheid,” he said. “I think they are there to have a crack at authority.” “I am surprised the protest movement accommodates them.” At a press conference after the match on Saturday, Mr- Trappitt said the demonstrators had made “a pretty determined effort — they were obviously intent on breaching police, lines.”. Asked, for his response to , suggestions that -the Auckland match was *nerely a

“dress rehearsal” for the test protest, he said: “We obviously managed this time and I do not see why we cannot next time.” Mr Trappitt said that only a few arrests were made, even though many offences were disclosed, because “when you arrest, you dissipate your forces.” Arrests were undertaken only where they were “feasible,” since each arrest took two or three officers out of the “field of action.” However, he said, “That does not mean to say that there will not be arrests later.” • Arrests may come after officers study police photographs and film of some incidents taken by police teams using video training equipment. P