Police are continuing to enforce the newly enacted Gangs Act 2024 and have arrested several people across the country

Around 5.25pm on Friday, 20 November, Police in Whakatane noticed a vehicle with no front bumper on Bridge Street.

The driver, a 28-year-old Black Power member, was observed wearing a Black Power cap.

When Police approached the man when he was out of the vehicle, he had changed his cap to plain.

However, when asked, he handed over the original cap and was arrested.

A further two males, a 21-year-old Black Power member and a 52-year-old with gang associations, were arrested in Eastern Bay of Plenty for displaying gang insignia. 

CENTRAL
A 35-year-old Mongrel Mob member was seen by Police running north on High Street in Dannevirke Friday afternoon, wearing a black and red Mongrel Mob shirt.

He is due in court in Dannevirke on 27 November.

Around 6.40pm Friday, a woman was observed wearing gang clothing in Marton.

Police established that she had just been released from prison and was wearing the clothing she had gone in wearing.

She was subsequently given a warning.

Shortly before 9am Friday, a shoplifting report was made via Auror in New Plymouth, with the offender identifiable and wearing clothing with Black Power-related insignia.

A search warrant was obtained, and the 51-year-old man was arrested inside a store in Waitara later that afternoon.

He is due in court on 27 November. 

COUNTIES MANUKAU

Police conducting a road checkpoint on Mount Wellington Highway, Mount Wellington, about 10pm Friday night, noticed a 33-year-old man - a passenger in a vehicle - wearing a Head Hunters supporter sweatshirt.

The man has no known gang links.

The sweatshirt was seized, and the man was bailed to appear in Auckland District Court on 28 November.

EASTERN

Police on patrol on Southampton Street, Hastings about 11.45am Friday, 20 November, saw a man walking along the footpath wearing a sweatshirt with a Mongrel Mob symbol on the back.

The 30-year-old Mongrel Mob member was arrested and the insignia seized.

He was due in court on Saturday.

WELLINGTON

Police arrested a patched Black Power member in Cuba Mall in Wellington around 12:45am Saturday, who was wearing a Nomads baseball cap.

The 27-year-old is due in court on 28 November on a gang insignia charge, and also on a charge of possessing instruments for methamphetamine use.