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Crime and gang activity are “increasing” in Napier and more police officers are needed on its streets, says the city’s mayor.
Kirsten Wise’s comments, backed by Police Association President Chris Cahill, come after an attack that left one person dead at the Outlaws Motorcycle Club home in Napier on Monday. Police have launched a homicide investigation and are pursuing “strong lines of investigation” into the attack, which took place at an address on Mersey St in the suburb of Pandora. No arrests have been made.
Wise said the incident was “absolutely terrible” and that she was “very concerned” about escalating crime in general, along with the presence of gang activity in Napier. It came after a shooting believed to stem from an altercation between rival gangs outside a bar in West Quay on February 28.
“The fact that we have the highest social housing record is becoming a pressure point and the growth in the number of gang members is becoming quite significant, which is directly correlated with the increase in activity that we’re watching, “Wise said. Things.
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Things
Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise believes additional resources and support are needed from the central government.
The mayor wrote to Police Minister Poto Williams about the problems Napier was facing a few weeks ago. He had received a response explaining what “additional resources have been invested on the East Coast in recent years” and referring to the national gang operations that were at stake. But more was needed.
“That lack of visibility is quite critical in terms of illegal behavior. The statistics tell a story: we have the second highest overall crime rate in the country, we have the highest domestic violence rates, and we are number one or two in terms of methamphetamine use, ”he said. .
“I personally believe that we need additional resources and support from the central government and we will continue to advocate strongly on behalf of the Napier community.”
Cahill said more police officers were needed on the streets to give people “a little peace of mind.”
“When you have so many high-profile public incidents, the value of seeing a police officer out there is very reassuring for the public, but also for the officers knowing they have enough colleagues around to back them up.”
John Cowpland / Stuff
Police at the scene of a serious assault in Napier Monday afternoon.
After speaking with people from Napier, Cahill said that many of them had pointed out that the more gang members hit the streets, they didn’t see many police officers.
In the Mersey St incident, one person was taken to Hawke’s Bay Hospital in serious condition after being assaulted by two others around 1:20 p.m. Monday. They later died as a result of their injuries.
Mersey St, part of a busy industrial area, remained cordoned off Tuesday morning, with an armed police officer on duty as detectives and forensic teams dressed in white boiler suits continued to investigate the incident.
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Police told a man who lived inside the home where the assault occurred that he could enter the property early Tuesday afternoon. “They [police] They haven’t told us too much, ”he said.
A business owner based in nearby Thames St said Things He had provided police with CCTV footage showing a car and motorcycle, but did not give any description of either vehicle.
A man who had worked on the streets for the past 11 years said he had never seen or heard anything like it during his time. “They are usually kept alone, as far as I know, not many of them live in the house.”
John Cowpland / Stuff
Police at the scene of a serious assault on Mersey St in Napier Monday afternoon.
Police said they were “actively looking for witnesses to this incident,” in addition to conducting door-to-door consultations with businesses throughout the area, along with requests for CCTV footage.
“There will be an increased police presence in the Mersey St industrial area today as we continue our investigations.”
A police spokesman said they wanted to reassure the Napier community “that there will be a strong and visible police presence throughout the city.”
“Our staff is properly trained and equipped to deal with any situation that may arise, and we are committed to ensuring that members of our community feel safe and secure.”
Less than two weeks ago, a community meeting on gang violence was held in Napier, hosted by Taupō National MP Louise Upston and National Justice Spokesperson MP Simon Bridges.
Marty Sharpe / Stuff
A man died after a serious assault on Mersey St in Napier Monday afternoon.
In a statement Monday, Upston said it was now necessary to take action against gang violence in Napier.
She had written to Police Minister Poto Williams last week asking for an urgent investigation into the escalation of gang violence.
- If you have information, contact the Police at 105 and quote file number 210329/1374. Alternatively, the information can be submitted anonymously via Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.
