January 23, 2020
Gang heads asked to de-escalate tension
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Deputy Police Commissioner Wally Haumaha says he’s talking with gang leaders in an effort to de-escalate tensions after incidents involving firearms at Ruatoria and Taradale and a killing in south Auckland.
He says police will crack down hard on gun use.
He says the gangs are a feature of society, so the strategy is to get key leaders together to sort out some sort of truce and stay out of each other’s territory.
“There’s the hard hitting approach and then there’s the approach that needs to involve speaking to the leaders of these groups, to come together and find ways and means of keeping our communities safe. De-escalating this stuff, looking at those who are in possession of illegal firearms, that’s our role, and nobody deserves to sit inside any of our townships, Ruatoria, Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay, and live in fear there is going to be a shooting at the OK Corral,” Mr Haumaha says.
He says Māori and iwi leaders have also offered to be part of the solution.
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