Top cop backs eviction

Whangarei's police leader has told civic leaders that while crime figures are down, he is concerned about a new gang chapter established in Otangarei in recent months.

The Area Commander for Whangarei and Kaipara, Inspector Paul Dimery wrote in his monthly report to Whangarei District Council that the members of the Tribesman Motorcycle Gang's Otangarei chapter were all "career criminals who have thrived on bullying, drug dealing and intimidation".

"They are thugs and they are manipulative," Mr Dimery said.

Despite his warning of the havoc that gangs wreaked on communities, Mr Dimery's report also said crime appeared to be decreasing in Whangarei, at least according to the May figures.

There were a total of 131 less offences in May 2012 compared to May 2011, noticeably less violence in public places, burglary and theft from vehicles. Mr Dimery said the downward trend could be largely attributed to the CitySafe and Blue Club volunteer security programmes.

Several serious crimes, such as aggravated robberies, were being followed up "robustly", he said.

The report was presented at the council meeting on Wednesday by Senior Sergeant Cliff Metcalfe because Mr Dimery was away.

In it, Mr Dimery said he had "read with trepidation" in the media about Housing New Zealand's efforts to evict two Dunn family members from an Otangarei state house.

Mr Dimery said he applauded Whangarei District Court overturning the family's appeal against the pending eviction last week.

His report also said one group of residents who had not signed an informal petition calling for support for the family had been subject to an arson attack and, possibly in a separate incident, a bullet fired through the front door of a workplace.

Although the state house family and the alleged arson and gunshot were mentioned in the same paragraph, Mr Dimery's report stated: "At this stage, there is nothing to link these occurrences."

A spokesman for Raymond and James Dunn said he was concerned that the district's top police officer had described the Dunns as a "crime family" and had commented publicly about the appeal court hearing in the same instance as he had mentioned organised crime and gangs.

Housing New Zealand had issued the eviction notice because the tenancy agreement was with the brothers' mother who died three months ago.

"Paul Dimery is telling the community they shouldn't want this family here but can he prove to the community what he says about this family is true?" the family spokesman said.