Cleaning up Youth Gangs

Cleaning up youth gangs

Increasing youth gang violence and anti-social behaviour in the past year has prompted an intensive police response in Auckland's Western Area.

Area Commander Inspector Jim Wilson says street robberies, use of weapons, violence and drug use by youth gangs have become a major concern for police and the community.

At least two victims of youth gang violence have been seriously assaulted in the past year. One man received life-threatening injuries ending up in a drug-induced coma. Another had to have over $22,000 worth of dental repairs after being struck with a golf club.

“The gangs mass text to communicate with each other and there can be 40 vehicles turn up within minutes of a text going out,” says Jim.

“In one incident in March between 80 to 100 youth gang members, some of them armed, confronted each other. Every available police patrol in Auckland was needed to restore order.

“We started a range of proactive and reactive measures designed to immediately reduce the level of offending.”

Operation