Public urged to speak up on gangs

VIOLENCE: Police converged on Fordlands on Thursday after shots were fired at three house. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

After a series of gang related incidents in Rotorua police are maintaining a high level of visibility on the city streets - and urging the community to speak up.

Reassurance patrols are continuing to operate in the Western Heights and Fordlands areas.

Rotorua area prevention manager Inspector Stuart Nightingale encouraged the community to talk to police about what they saw and knew about gang activity.

It follows the torching of a Turner Dr address and several gun shots in Western Heights and Fordlands last week, which was attributed to growing tensions between two factions of the Black Power gang.

"The key to strengthening the community and to building an intolerance against crime is for the local community to partner with police and to adopt a problem solving approach.

"We all want to feel safe in our homes and on our roads, regardless of who we are and where we live.

"For police to be effective in helping the community to 'Be Safe and Feel Safe' we need the help of local people to tell us what they see and what they know.

"It's our mission to be the safest country in the world, that's one of the strategic goals of New Zealand police," Mr Nightingale said.

He said any information would be treated in confidence. Anyone with information should call Rotorua police on (07) 349 9400 or Crimestoppers on (0800) 555 111.