Residents fed-up with Whakatane gang

PATCHED: A photo of an Outback Black patch taken during a search warrant yesterday. PHOTO/SUPPLIED 120914OUTBACK

Whakatane residents have told police they are fed up with gang activity following a nasty assault that left a man in an induced coma.

People living in the Whakatane suburb of Awatapu have turned to police in the hope they can make their streets safe again.

Whakatane Detective Sergeant Darren Thomas said there had been a significant increase in complaints from Awatapu residents during the past two weeks.

"Almost all of the calls have been about the anti-social and intimidating behaviour of one group - the Outback Blacks," Mr Thomas said.

The OutBack Blacks align themselves to other Black Power chapters in Whakatane although it is not clear whether they are accepted by these other chapters.

"The complaints concern a number of addresses in Awatapu known to be lived in by these Outback members.

"Awatapu residents are telling us they no longer feel safe when they have to walk past these addresses and they have reached a point where they have changed the route they walk their children to school.

"We have also had elderly people call about the intimidation they are feeling. These gang members are walking behind them on the footpath, following them up their driveways or just loitering outside their homes," Mr Thomas said.

About 1.30am on Tuesday morning a 32-year-old man and his friend were bashed by two others in Awatapu. The 32-year-old suffered serious injuries and was put in an induced coma after the assault but is on the road to recovery and is understood to have been released from hospital.

His friend ran to get help during the attack.

Mr Thomas said police were still appealing for information.

On Monday police issued the first of what they say will be a continuing number of search warrants at gang houses in Awatapu. The second was yesterday.

"As a result of the warrants we recovered items used to smoke methamphetamine, items used to smoke cannabis, we found cannabis growing at one of the addresses and we also located a concealed weapon."

While the warrants were carried out, police maintained a large presence in Awatapu, talking to neighbouring residents about what had been happening.

Mr Thomas said said the attention would remain until the anti-social behaviour had been stopped.

"The Outback Blacks have been bubbling away for a while with the odd burglary or domestic incident but have become a lot more active recently and are asking for attention from us.

"Until the people of Awatapu feel safe walking around the suburb, we will give them all the attention they want."