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Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt is calling for police to be given greater power to deal with gangs after tensions escalated with another house set on fire in the southern city at the weekend.
The latest fire at the front of the Mongrel Mob gang compound in Severn Street on Saturday night followed the razing of the rival Road Knights gang headquarters in Balmoral Drive on Thursday and the setting fire of two Road Knights' motor cycles.
Eight members of the Invercargill and Dunedin Mongrel Mob appeared in Invercargill District Court on Friday on a variety of charges involving arson, criminal damage, and unlawful possession of firearms.
A ninth Mob member appeared in court on Saturday charged with possession of a knife.
Mr Shadbolt said that a national gang unit should be set up to deal with gang conflicts.
He supported New Zealand following the American system of having an elected chief of police in each city, he told the Southland Times.
The chief would be voted in on his policies, which could include a "no gangs" policy.
Senior Sergeant Olaf Jensen said yesterday the Severn St fire was at a house in front of the Mongrel Mob gang compound.
"The connection with the Mongrel Mob might just be the fact that it is in front to the Mongrel Mob headquarters," he said.
Armed police arrived at the fire at 8.20pm Saturday to ensure it was safe before allowing 20 firefighters to fight the blaze.
A neighbour of the Mongrel Mob headquarters said the destruction of the gang pads was good for the city.
"Let them kill themselves off and burn themselves out. Let the buggers go for it. They are doing a good job," he told the Southland Times.
Mr Jensen said police were maintaining a high profile about the city in response to the gang tension and asked the public report any activity that may be of concern, whether gang related or not.
- NZPA
