There was a substantial police presence as up to 400 cars moved through the city.
While Hawke’s Bay area commander Inspector Lincoln Sycamore said there were “relatively few issues”, several arrests were reported.
“There were three arrests for displaying gang insignia at various locations in Napier. Several other breaches have been noted and will be followed up,” Sycamore said.
“At Napier Tech clubrooms there were four arrests for disorder offences, with those arrested receiving dispersal notices in addition to disorder related charges. Another man was arrested on Douglas McLean Ave for displaying gang insignia and being in breach of bail conditions.”
Police Minister Mark Mitchell told the Herald on Sunday that police did an “outstanding job” at the tangi, including enforcing the gang patch laws.
“The feedback I have received is that compliance was high and the public are very happy with the way gangs are being policed,” he said.
“Gang members who attempt to flout the law will find out that they will be the subject of enforcement action at the time of police’s choosing. There have only been a few examples of gang members who think they are above the law and they will learn very quickly that they are not.”
He said the Government and police were sending a clear message: “if you break the law, expect a response”.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell is praising officers' work.
Photo / Mark Mitchell
Police said on Sunday the follow-up process will continue over the coming days.
The Herald understands there could have been as many as 15 instances of members flouting the gang patch ban.
The ban came into force on November 21 alongside a set of new powers for officers to clamp down on gang members in public. That includes non-consorting orders issued by the courts to stop gang members associating or communicating, and new dispersal notices to stop gatherings.
Benson was formerly Napier’s Mongrel Mob Barbarian chapter president and a prominent sportsman in the community, playing premier club rugby for Napier Tech for several seasons and cricket to a high level in his school days.
Jamie Ensor is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team based at Parliament. He was previously a TV reporter and digital producer in the Newshub Press Gallery office.
