Council by-law to ban gang regalia in public places - 10/03/2006Wanganui District Council today resolved to create a by-law to ban gang regalia and colours from the Central Business District and all other public places in Wanganui.
"A sphere of intimidation is what gangs have brought to our community – 'intimidation' is the by-word and watch-word of gangs," Mayor Michael Laws said.
"It is time for this Council to say 'no more'. We can enact a by-law that allows people to feel safer on the streets and removes the 'strut factor' of the gangs and their intimidation of the people of Wanganui."
The by-law will be drafted as a matter of urgency following support from the Council at a meeting this afternoon.
The draft by-law will be reported to the Strategy Committee's meeting on March 23 and, following the Council's approval of the proposed by-law, will be published for community input and consultation.
Before making its decision, the Council heard from Wanganui Police acting Area Commander Senior Sergeant Duncan MacLeod and District Commander Superintendent Mark Lammas about recent gang-related incidents in Wanganui which prompted today's meeting.
Police Association President Greg O'Connor also spoke to the Council about gang activities in New Zealand and the need for a co-ordinated approach from central government and local communities to deal with gangs. | 
