Armed police swoop on island hideout

Motiti Island. Photo / Supplied

Armed police swooped on an island hideout in the Bay of Plenty this morning after attempts to coax a suspected criminal to the mainland were unsuccessful.

Police and armed offenders squad members executed a search warrant at a property on Motiti Island, about 21km northeast of Tauranga, in the early hours of the morning, Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair said.

The swoop followed numerous unsuccessful attempts to negotiate a 41-year-old man's return to the mainland to answer charges, after he failed to appear in court in December last year.

"Once police became aware that he was living on Motiti Island, numerous unsuccessful attempts were made to negotiate with him to return to the mainland to answer charges," Mr Wright-St Clair said.

"Police then made a decision to visit the island to apprehend him."

The presence of the Tauranga armed offenders squad was considered necessary after a risk assessment was carried out on the address and occupant.

It was the first time the squad had been called to the island in its 18-year history.

"There is normally very little policing required on the island, and although it was a small community, they work together to ensure the safety of each other and are supported by police at Mt Maunganui," Mr Wright-St Clair said.

Apprehending the man safely posed some difficulties due to the lack of appropriate transport to and from the island and the rugged coastline.

Mr Wright-St Clair praised the assistance of the Auckland maritime unit and the police launch Deodar III, which accommodated all 20 operational and support staff.

The man will appear in Tauranga District Court today charged with unlawful possession of a shotgun and cultivating cannabis.

- NZPA