Dunedin police warn of increasing street violence

File photo / NZ Herald

Increased incidents of unprovoked street violence in Dunedin are worrying police who say injuries will get more and more serious if the problem continues.

The warning comes after a 40-year-old man was taken to hospital in a serious condition after being attacked by a group of six men in York Place early Sunday morning.

The man was walking home about 1.30am when he was knocked to the ground and kicked in his head and body. Acting Senior Sergeant Dave Scott told the Otago Daily Times that police were lucky not to be investigating a homicide.

Police are also investigating a second assault 20 minutes earlier, in which a male student and a female tourist from Germany, both aged 19, were assaulted by a group of six people in Princes St, near Rattray St.

A public warning was issued three weeks ago after a father-of-two was assaulted by four people in the early hours on Moray Place.

This was "yet another" serious assault involving a group of young men attacking a person for no apparent reason, Detective Sergeant Rob Hanna said.

"These types of assaults are of real concern and unfortunately, if they continue, it will only be a matter of time before someone is more seriously injured."

- NZPA