KEY POINTS:
Militant boy racers are openly discussing violent tactics to use against police in retaliation against a crackdown by authorities.
However many young car enthusiasts are ridiculing the calls for violence and distancing themselves from the aggressive talk.
Police have come down hard on law-breaking 'hoons' in the wake of an incident in Christchurch where an officer was surrounded by cars, shot at and pelted with bottles at the weekend.
The Government is promising to consider tough new laws targeting boy racers such as crushing cars, but the stance taken by authorities appears to be only hardening the resolve of some of the motorised youth.
Messages are being circulated to organise shows of strength in Christchurch, while some Bebo social networking websites are buzzing with violent anti-police sentiment.
On one website urging car enthusiasts to "stand up and fight for our aves (the four avenues bordering central Christchurch)", people have posted messages threatening police.
One person writes: "Go get your .22 air pistols and rifles before they need to be licensed. Make sure your bottles are made into moletoffs(sic) and get the message through loud and clear, ie f*** our lives up with fines from power-tripping police officers that enforce aspects of laws that don't actually exist and watch what happens.
"They will get shot at and its about dam(sic) time. If you're a cop reading this, don't let yourself become a dead victim of circumstance - you have picked the wrong occupation."
Another post reads: "Everyone carry spotlights...get your passengers to shine it in the cops' eyes.
"They can't pull you over or can't see (number) plates if you blind them."
Inspector Malcolm Johnston said police did not want to entertain such comments by responding to them.
"We are leaving it in the hands of the Ministers of Police and Transport," Mr Johnston said.
Another member on the same Bebo website writes:
"The car enthusiasts that are there for a good time need to take out the trouble-makers amongst them. Too bad it's a little late for that now they fired at the (police)."
The militant element also came under attack in another post, with a female car enthusiast suggesting they should join the military to learn some discipline.
"Grow up and realise what you're doing to all of us. It's people like (you) that's ruining it," the post said.
