Young gang prospects attacking people in streets, police say

The youth gang that brutally bashed a young man in Wellington this month has links with adult gangs, police say.

The group was believed to have attacked 10 people in the past seven days, including 20-year old Oliver Mace who was bashed so severely he suffered a fractured skull.

Detective Sergeant Damian Murphy told Radio New Zealand there were known links between the youth and adult gangs.

"That's a common feature of the gang culture - the younger members will commit offences in order to gain respect and its part and parcel of their lifestyle," Mr Murphy said.

But he added the recent assaults should not be seen as a long-term trend of increasing gang violence in Wellington.

"This is a spike in an otherwise safe city."

The youth gang is made up of between four and seven Maori and Polynesians aged between 16 and 24 .

Mr Murphy said police have strong leads and were closing in on the gang.

- NZPA