Latest news with #MartyJames
NZ Herald
28-04-2025
- NZ Herald
Police use new powers to curb gang tensions in Hawke's Bay, Gisborne
Other alleged gang-related incidents in Wairoa that had not been reported to police included assaults, vehicle rammings, other damage to cars, and threatening behaviour. A handful of people have since been arrested on drug charges, display of gang insignia, disorderly behaviour, aggravated burglary and possession of offensive weapons, and breaching bail. Detective Inspector Marty James, district manager of criminal investigations in the Eastern District, told Morning Report the Gang Conflict Warrant enabled police to search vehicles or places gang members own or use. It is used to 'enhance public safety or remove the weapons from the street'. 'Effectively, it's a tool to suppress gang activity and enhance our community safety'. James said police needed to prove there was conflict when applying for the warrant, which could be used for up to 14 days before needing to be renewed. Since 2023, the warrant has been used several times with success in the district, he said. Most of the arrests since Tuesday related to possession of knives, knuckle dusters and weapons in general, James said. There had been no inter-gang conflict in Wairoa or Napier since Thursday. Wairoa Mayor Craig Little said on Friday the flare-up of violence between the rival gangs was a disgrace, after months of peace. 'There's no excuse for it happening. I really feel sorry for police officers, they're doing so well. 'They [gang members] just don't give a stuff about anyone else's safety.' Things had quietened down since the Gangs Act came into force in November, he said. The arrests Two men — aged 18 and 35 — were charged with aggravated burglary and possession of offensive weapons after the Tuesday night incident. On Thursday night, a 21-year-old man was arrested on drug- and driving-related charges. A 21-year-old woman was also arrested for disorderly behaviour, and a 50-year-old man was arrested for breaching bail. On Saturday, police said a 37-year-old man was arrested and charged with prohibited display of gang insignia, and a 42-year-old Wairoa man had been charged with possession of cannabis. On Sunday, police said a Napier man, 44, had been arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine and a set of knuckle dusters was seized.
Scoop
26-04-2025
- Scoop
Police Investigating House Fire In Wairoa
Press Release – New Zealand Police The house suffered substantial damage, and a neighbouring property was also damaged by the fire. Detective Inspector Marty James, District Manager Criminal Investigations: An investigation is under way into a house fire in Wairoa overnight. Emergency services were called to the well-involved fire on Apatu Street about 7pm on Friday. The house had been vacant for several years, and no injuries were reported. The house suffered substantial damage, and a neighbouring property was also damaged by the fire. Today, Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand carried out a scene examination, though the cause of the fire is unexplained. Enquiries are ongoing, but at this stage we are satisfied the fire is not connected to any gang-related incidents that occurred in Wairoa earlier this month. On Thursday, Eastern District Police were issued a Gang Conflict Warrant following several incidents stemming from ongoing tensions between Mongrel Mob and Black Power. A significant operation is under way across Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti, including in Wairoa. The Gang Conflict Warrant is issued under the Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Act and gives us special powers to search vehicles of suspected gang members, and to seize firearms, weapons and vehicles. While we do not believe the Apatu Street fire is related to those tensions, Police will continue to have a highly visible presence in the Wairoa community, and in communities around the Eastern District.
RNZ News
26-04-2025
- RNZ News
House fire at vacant Wairoa home under investigation
Police are cracking down on gang violence in Wairoa and the regions surrounding the Hawke's Bay town, but say a fire at a vacant house in the town is thought to be unrelated. (File photo) Photo: RNZ A fire that broke out in a vacant house in the Hawke's Bay town of Wairoa is not thought to be connected to ongoing gang unrest in the area, but is being investigated, police say. Firefighters were called to the house on Apatu Street, about 7pm on Friday - Anzac Day, Detective Inspector Marty James said. The fire was already burning strongly in the building when fire crews arrived at the scene. "The house suffered substantial damage, and a neighbouring property was also damaged by the fire," James said. "The house had been vacant for several years, and no injuries were reported." A scene examination was carried out on Saturday, but it was yet known how the fire started, James said. A recent spate of gang violence in Wairoa, Tairāwhiti and Hawke's Bay allowed police to be granted extra powers under a Gang Conflict Warrant . And on Friday they announced the launch of a police operation to crack down on the unrest. "Enquiries are ongoing, but at this stage we are satisfied the fire is not connected to any gang-related incidents that occurred in Wairoa earlier this month," James said. On Tuesday, shots were fired into houses in Wairoa that are connected to both the Mongrel Mob and Black Power, and emergency services were also called to an incident at a house with gang connections in Napier, on Thursday. "We're also aware of a number of alleged gang-related incidents in Wairoa that have not been reported to us, including assaults, vehicle rammings, other damage to cars, and threatening behaviour," James said on Friday. The police operation was "significant", he said. "The Gang Conflict Warrant is issued under the Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Act and gives us special powers to search vehicles of suspected gang members, and to seize firearms, weapons and vehicles." Police would also be on the streets in high numbers, "to have a highly visible presence in the Wairoa community, and in communities around the Eastern District," he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
26-04-2025
- Scoop
Police Investigating House Fire In Wairoa
Detective Inspector Marty James, District Manager Criminal Investigations: An investigation is under way into a house fire in Wairoa overnight. Emergency services were called to the well-involved fire on Apatu Street about 7pm on Friday. The house had been vacant for several years, and no injuries were reported. The house suffered substantial damage, and a neighbouring property was also damaged by the fire. Today, Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand carried out a scene examination, though the cause of the fire is unexplained. Enquiries are ongoing, but at this stage we are satisfied the fire is not connected to any gang-related incidents that occurred in Wairoa earlier this month. On Thursday, Eastern District Police were issued a Gang Conflict Warrant following several incidents stemming from ongoing tensions between Mongrel Mob and Black Power. A significant operation is under way across Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti, including in Wairoa. The Gang Conflict Warrant is issued under the Criminal Activity Intervention Legislation Act and gives us special powers to search vehicles of suspected gang members, and to seize firearms, weapons and vehicles. While we do not believe the Apatu Street fire is related to those tensions, Police will continue to have a highly visible presence in the Wairoa community, and in communities around the Eastern District.
RNZ News
25-04-2025
- RNZ News
Three arrested as police enforce Gang Conflict Warrant in Eastern District
Photo: 123RF Three people have been arrested overnight as police enforce a Gang Conflict Warrant in the Eastern District. The arrests come as police invoked special powers under the warrant eight times in a series of operations targeting gang-related activity . The warrant was issued 7 April and gives police special search powers to address recent gang conflict in the Tairāwhiti Gisborne area. A 21-year-old man was taken into custody in Wairoa shortly before 11pm. He is facing drug and driving-related charges and is due to appear in the Wairoa District Court on 2 May. A 21-year-old woman was also arrested for disorderly behaviour, and a 50-year-old man was arrested for breaching bail conditions. Detective Inspector Marty James, District Manager Criminal Investigations, said police were pleased with the results of the overnight operations, which aim to curb illegal and dangerous gang activity. "We will be deploying additional resources within the coming days to ensure we are utilising the warrant's special powers to their full extent," James said. "Police will be highly visible in our communities, and we hope this provides reassurance to members of the public who have a right to go about their lives without fear and intimidation." He also thanked the public for their ongoing cooperation. "We are working hard to hold people committing this offending to account." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
