Hells Angels go to High Court over Wanganui ban - 30/07/2010

Hot on the heels of an official NZ Police report, detailing the positive effects of Wanganui’s gang insignia ban, the national chapter of the Hells Angels are appealing to the High Court for the ban to be struck down.

The application has been made by Auckland based gang member Philip Ernest Schubert and was lodged in the High Court by lawyers Lane Neave of Christchurch.

Mayor Michael Laws today said the application to seek a judicial review to overturn Wanganui’s legislation “is their last desperate roll of the dice. They have lost at the district court challenging the ban, so are trying the back door route. This seeks to challenge the way that the council made its decision.”

“It is little wonder gangs want to challenge our law. The Police report makes it clear that it is working and that it has become very uncomfortable to be a gang member in Wanganui.

“Local Government New Zealand now wants Parliament to allow all councils to follow Wanganui’s lead. Our ban thus has the capacity to upset gangs nationwide.

“We believe the Hells Angel legal action has little merit but it does further illustrate that gangs are being affected. Wanganui is clearly a safer place and gang members are leaving town. We intend that process continues.”

ENDS