More than 70 infringement notices were issued and three arrests were made as police targeted a gang gathering near Nelson today.
Tasman District Commander Tracey Thompson said the increased police presence was there to “ensure the safety of the public and that attendees of a gang gathering comply with the law”.
It came as members of the Mongrel Mob Barbarians travelled to the Lee Valley near Brightwater from other parts of the country. Police drafted in reinforcements from Canterbury and Wellington. They expected up to 150 gang members to attend.
Police conducted a number of breath screenings tests with one person having a reading of more than 400 micrograms per litre of breath, said Thompson.
As well as an influx of gang members, police came from Canterbury and Wellington to help keep an eye on proceedings in the Tasman region. (Source: 1News)
Police handed out 72 infringements notices “for a range of driving behaviours”.
Three vehicles were impounded and four drivers forbidden to drive.
Two people were arrested after they were found to have been suspended from driving while another was arrested for wearing gang insignia as part of police’s new enforcement of the public gang patch ban.
“Those arrested for the driving offence will be summonsed, while the person found wearing gang insignia is expected in court later in the week,” said Thompson.
While no-one from the gang wanted to be interviewed, they told 1News they thought the police response was a waste of police money.
A member of the public who was in the area said it seemed like a lot of police but “better to be safe than sorry I guess”.
