Wanganui Mayor is going gangbusters

The Mayor of Wanganui wants more police resources to fight gang violence, and says gangs have been tolerated for far too long.

Michael Laws said gangs were being encouraged through the acceptance of their existence and the lack of police resources and manpower to deal with them.

His comments follow a clash between Mongrel Mob and Hells Angels members at a service station in Wanganui East this week, and later at Wanganui Hospital.

The first clash led to two men being taken to hospital with head and facial injuries.

The two groups clashed again at the hospital.

Mr Laws told National Radio the confrontations were not uncommon.

Given the lack of police resources, people should not be surprised when such confrontations happened, he said.

"It's time that I and a number of other provincial mayors said 'for God's sake give us the resources'."

Police Association president Greg O'Connor also called for a commitment to get rid of gangs.

Mr O'Connor told National Radio the problem was not only gang violence but gang crime.

"These gangs are great at PR."

Mr O'Connor said the heads of the gangs today would be looking to shut down the fallout from the confrontation because it was very bad for their illicit drugs business.

"Whenever gang violence spills over into the street it means they will get police attention that they normally don't get."

Mr O'Connor said it was unusual now for gang violence to become public and when it did happen it was an indication that the turf war had become serious.

"Turf war is always over who has the rights to distribute drugs, particularly methamphetamine," he said.

Mr O'Connor said new laws to combat the gangs were not necessarily the answer; rather a change in emphasis was needed on the law.

A commitment to get rid of gangs was also needed and if this was not possible they should be disempowered, he said.

Acting Area Commander Senior Sergeant Duncan McLeod said the latest violent incidents could have put innocent bystanders at risk and would not be tolerated.

Mr McLeod said police were aware of rising tensions between the gangs.

Extra staff were on patrol and the situation would be monitored for at least the next two days.

- NZPA