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Police, including the Armed Criminal Squad, raided 7 gang-linked addresses in Wellington and Upper Hutt.
Six people have been arrested in coordinated raids on gang-linked properties in the Wellington region.
After months of planning, the operation involving 60 police officers, including the Armed Criminal Squad (AOS), was carried out in seven homes in Wellington and Upper Hutt on Wednesday.
Detective Sergeant Warwick McKee said police had yet to press charges, but they likely were, as were other arrests.
“We want to assure the community that we treat incidents of gang violence and intimidation seriously. We have targeted the gangs this morning and let them know that the community and the police do not tolerate the behaviors they have displayed. “
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Those arrested face charges of receiving stolen property, illegally possessing an imitation firearm, and violating bail conditions. More charges are likely, McKee said.
Stuff
Armed police officers were at the scene of a search warrant at a home on Onslow Rd in Khandallah.
This comes amid growing concern about violence and the rise of gangs in the capital, with figures showing that police have identified nearly a third more gang members in the city compared to the end of 2017.
These include a daytime altercation between Nomads and members of Black Power on a busy street in Kilbirnie on August 26.
The two groups were reportedly threatening each other with machetes and knives.
In July, two groups, believed to be gangs, fought in front of the BP gas station on Taranaki Street in Te Aro, and one person was stabbed.
The police dogs were on a raid in Khandallah, one of seven in Wellington this morning.
The Nomads Bad Company Facebook page later posted images of the incident online as part of a promotional video showing the gang.
McKee said that many of those attacked Wednesday were “young members of society who are actively offending to influence and intimidate society.”
The AOS attended as a precaution.
At least seven officers, some of whom were armed, as well as police dogs, were seen at an address on Onslow Rd in Khandallah.
Wednesday’s raids were the result of months of investigative work.
A Stuff The reporter at the scene said police were outside with about five men and women from the property, with a man in handcuffs, before re-entering the house with them.
Data published to Stuff under the Official Information Act shows that, as of August 1, there were 667 gang members living in Wellington and 113 possible gangs. In October 2017, the police registered only 485 gang members living in Wellington.
