Latest news with #SearchandSurveillanceAct
1News
26-07-2025
- 1News
Send in the drones: Resident calls for aerial crackdown on dirt bikers
Warfare, shark-spotting, real estate photography. The drone has become a multi-use agent of the sky, and a Rotorua resident wants them used to fight illegal dirt bike activity plaguing the city. However, local authorities warn the seemingly simple solution is anything but. Rotorua Lakes Council and local police have faced increasing difficulty keeping the city's reserves, play areas and sports fields safe from vandalism – particularly from dirt bikes. Earlier this month, police promised a crackdown on the issue. ADVERTISEMENT Resident Ryan Gray believed drones could be the answer. He deals with the problem daily with "loud and obnoxious" riders hooning down a nearby cycleway. "These riders dive onto footpaths and cycleways where cars can't go, and if they're chased, they'll just ride more dangerously," said Gray. "That's where drones come in. You've got CCTV, you've got the tech so why not use it? "The camera sees them, drone goes up, follows them home, you then knock on their door, and you've got them on video." Rotorua resident Ryan Gray wants more done about illegal dirt bike activity plaguing public areas. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting) A video of the issue he posted online recently sparked comments of vigilante action and concerns for innocent bystanders and the riders. "It's not even about catching everyone, it's about deterrence. If people know they'll be caught, they'll think twice. ADVERTISEMENT "Right now, it feels like no one's doing anything, and the community's getting desperate. We shouldn't have to wait for a kid to get killed before police take this seriously." Authorities in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia have trialled similar systems. Their efficacy remains up for debate although, in California, footage of drones chasing and locating nuisance riders has been a hit on social media. In Western Australia, drones have been in use since 2018. They have more than 80 police pilots using them for search and rescue, surveillance, and public safety. This has included crackdowns on problem vehicles. "Western Australia is the single largest policing jurisdiction in the world," said Western Australia Police Sergeant Nathan Gilmour. "The inclusion of drone technology enhances police search capabilities across large distances and over rugged terrain that would unable to be accessed by vehicles or personnel." "Police are guided by Civil Aviation rules and legislation such as the Search and Surveillance Act and the Privacy Act when deploying drones over residential areas," he said. "We also know that these riders often travel considerable distances across town and the drone is also subject to flight time capability and distance from the control point." ADVERTISEMENT Drone use has been banned at Kuirau Park, Rotorua Lakefront Reserve, Village Green, Motutara (Sulphur) Point and Hannah's Bay Reserve. These sites are near an airport, helipad or aerodrome. Generally, operators must fly only in daylight, below 120m, keep drones in sight, and avoid people or private property. Flying near airports or in controlled airspace requires approval. Rotorua Police area prevention manager Inspector Phil Gillbanks. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting) Rotorua Police area prevention manager Inspector Phil Gillbanks said drones may seem like an "easy solution", but there were complicating factors. He believed collating information, public help and a cultural shift in some communities was needed to tackle the dirt bike issue. "We still require the public to step up and come forward with the street addresses that these dirt bike riders are coming and going from regularly," he said. "This anti-social behaviour is a societal problem, not just a police problem. It requires a mindset shift that the community can have an impact on achieving." ADVERTISEMENT Rotorua Lakes Council was also asking the community for help, with its hands tied by the nature of preventive barriers. "We must balance restricting motorcycle/vehicle access with ensuring that reserves and shared paths are accessible for legitimate users like walkers, people on push bikes, people with prams and people using mobility devices," said a council spokesperson. Drones were not seen as the solution. "The council doesn't have the resources to purchase or operate multiple drones to deter dirt bikers. "For anyone using drones, permission is required from owners of land a drone is being flown over, so they aren't necessarily practical for surveillance purposes." By Mathew Nash, Local Democracy Reporter Local Democracy Reporting is local-body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Otago Daily Times
15-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Meth ‘contributing factor' in theft
A man who siphoned over $6900 worth of petrol from a Gore self-service station did so because he was using methamphetamine and had lost his job at the meat works, a court has heard. Ricky John Byron, 37, of Gore, was before the Gore District Court last week on two charges of burglary for taking the petrol on nine occasions between January 19 and February 21. The man was also charged with having weapons in his car, breaching the Search and Surveillance Act and possessing goods capable of being used to commit a crime. Defence counsel Scott Williamson said his client was "obviously" using methamphetamine, and had lost his job at Waitane Meat Works before carrying out those crimes. The police summary said Byron approached the unmanned station in January. He covered a CCTV camera with a towel before climbing a 91 octane petrol fuel tank, the summary said. Unscrewing a vent, he inserted a hose into the tank and used a pump powered by a car battery to siphon fuel, before leaving the site about 3.45am. He then repeatedly revisited the station to steal petrol early in the morning, stealing an amount worth a total of $6932.71. On the last time police found him in his car at 3.11am and arrested him. A search of his car by police revealed a knife in a leather sheath in the front passenger seat and a black baseball bat in the rear left passenger footwell. The meat works had agreed to rehire the man when it reopened at the end of the month, though he would be stripped of his seniority, Mr Williamson said. Judge Mark Williams acknowledged Byron had lost his job and was struggling to make ends meet. The judge said the defendant had accepted it was a stupid thing to do, though driven by financial needs, and expressed remorse. "It comes as no surprise that methamphetamine was a contributing factor," Judge Williams said. He said it was better the man work than go to prison. Byron was sentenced to two months' community detention with a curfew of 7pm-6am and nine months' supervision — "just to keep an eye on things", the judge said.
Otago Daily Times
14-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Meth ‘contributing factor' to theft of about $7k petrol
A Gore man who siphoned over $6900 worth of petrol from a self-service station did so because he was using methamphetamine and had lost his job at the meat works, a court has heard. Ricky John Byron, 37, was before the Gore District Court on Wednesday for two charges of burglary for taking the petrol on nine occasions in Gore between January 19 and February 21. The man was also charged with having weapons in his car, breaching the Search and Surveillance Act and possessing goods capable of being used to commit a crime. Defence counsel Scott Williamson said his client was "obviously" using methamphetamine, and had lost his job at Waitane Meat Works before carrying out those crimes. The police summary said Byron approached the unmanned station in January wearing a jacket with the hood up, a balaclava and a baseball cap. He was also wearing a head torch, gloves, black pants and Red Band gumboots. He covered a CCTV camera with a towel before climbing a 91 octane petrol fuel tank, the summary said. Unscrewing a vent, he inserted a hose into the tank and used a pump powered by a car battery to siphon fuel, before leaving the site at about 3.45am. He then repeatedly revisited the station to steal petrol in the early hours of the morning, stealing an amount worth a total of $6932.71. On the last time he pulled up in his ute, with multiple fuel containers in the tray along with his pump and hose setup. He climbed under a chain link fence to enter the station and again stole petrol. Police found him in his car at 3.11am and arrested him. Following a search of his car Police found a black-handled knife in a leather sheath in the front passenger seat and a black baseball bat in the rear left passenger footwell. The summary said both weapons were in reach of the driver. They also found an iPhone with a cracked screen, which the defendant later said belonged to a friend but refused to give any identifying details of the supposed owner. Even when he was told he would be charged for failing to hand over the details of the phone, he still declined. Mr Williamson said the man had been honest about his drug abuse. He also said Byron had transferred $3000 to him to go towards repayment of the stolen fuel. The meat works had agreed to re-hire the man when it reopened at the end of the month, though he would be stripped of his seniority, Mr Williamson said. Judge Mark Williams acknowledged that Byron had lost his job and was struggling to make ends meet. The judge said the defendant had accepted it was a stupid thing to do, though driven by financial needs, and expressed remorse. "It comes as no surprise that methamphetamine was a contributing factor," Judge Williams said. He said it was better that the man work than go to prison. "You're better off contributing to society and your family than sitting in a prison cell." He also said that it could not have been easy to pay the $3000 without a job. Byron was sentenced to two months' community detention with a curfew of 7pm-6am and nine months' supervision. "Just to keep an eye on things," the judge said.
Otago Daily Times
14-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Prominent member of immigrant community jailed for breaches
A respected member of the Dunedin immigrant community has spent time in prison after spitting on a man and breaching court orders. Ali Jamel Saleh Al-Qahwaji, 62, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after earlier admitting two charges of breaching a protection order and assault. Before his convictions, the defendant was routinely seen in court supporting those of the Muslim faith. In August 2021, he was granted a discharge without conviction after breaching a temporary protection order. But he was back again in October last year, when he was sentenced to a month of community detention and nine months' supervision for breaching a protection order and breaching the Search and Surveillance Act. Yesterday, the court heard his former partner and mother of his child was in contact with him strictly for childcare purposes and had a protection order against him. But on August 5, the defendant showed up to his child's school not on his agreed day and in breach of a parenting order. He waited outside until the child and her mother walked out. Later, while holding the child, Al-Qahwaji yelled abuse at a man sitting in a car, who was with the defendant's ex-partner. The defendant said something about putting his boot through the man's face and the child was crying hysterically, the police summary said. Al-Qahwaji spat at the man and the phlegm landed on his neck. The abuse towards the man made the mother and her child scared and distressed. The trio got into the car and drove away from Al-Qahwaji. On November 28, Al-Qahwaji again showed up to the child's school, not on his agreed day, and breached the protection order. In a letter to the court, the defendant's former partner said she was worried about her daughter being exposed to the defendant's behaviour and he should be embarrassed about his actions. "Your job as a dad should be to protect her from harm, not to expose her to it," Judge David Robinson said Al-Qahwaji said he had a defence to the charges but did not want to be in custody pending a trial so pleaded guilty. He claimed he did not spit on the man as it was against his religion to do so. Counsel Deborah Henderson said the consequences of further offending had been made clear to her client. "Mr Al-Qahwaji has learnt his lesson because he realises that if he acts outside the protection order ... he's going to end up in prison again," she said. "This time in custody has been a real shock to him and been quite difficult." Judge Robinson sentenced the defendant to nine months' imprisonment. Due to his time spent in custody on remand, Al-Qahwaji will be released shortly.
Otago Daily Times
23-04-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Brockville trailer death charge upgraded to manslaughter
Brockville Road. Photo: Google Maps A Dunedin man has been charged with manslaughter after his partner died following a fall from a moving trailer. Andrew Jayden Mercer, 31, appeared in the Dunedin District Court this morning having previously been charged with reckless driving causing injury to Robert Douglas Ralston. He was also charged with refusing to undergo a compulsory impairment test and breaching the Search and Surveillance Act. The victim was critically injured followed the March 29 incident and died in hospital last week. Today, a new charge of manslaughter was added and Mercer's case was transferred to the High Court. No pleas have been entered to the charges. At the time of the incident, Senior Sergeant Anthony Bond, of Dunedin, said police were called to Brockville Rd after reports of a pair arguing. Mercer allegedly got into a car, while Mr Ralston was in a trailer attached to its rear. Police said the victim fell onto the ground and suffered serious head injuries after the car accelerated suddenly. Mercer was released on bail to appear before the High Court next month.
