OFF THE WIRE
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Palmerston North police have vowed to crack down on an Australian biker gang if its members are caught breaking the law in the city.
Patched members of the Rebels Motorcycle Club, which has been linked to violence and drug trafficking in Australia, have been spotted in Palmerston North this year.
There have been also been reported sightings of the gang in Whanganui, Whangarei, Taupo and Auckland.
With an estimated 2000 members, the Rebels are the largest gang in Australia and are considered a criminal organisation by the Australian government.
The acting Palmerston North area commander, Senior Sergeant Brett Amas, said police had information about Rebels being in the city.
"We are aware that there are a couple and they'll be dealt with like any other gang we have," he said.
"It's something we deal with quite quickly. If they are engaging in criminal activity then we will deal with them like we would for anyone else who commits a crime."
Mr Amas said police were aware that Mothers gang members lived in Palmerston North, as did small pockets of Mongrel Mob and Black Power associates, but the gang situation was not out of control.
"We won't be tolerating any gangs in the city, no matter who they are affiliated to."
Whanganui is the only New Zealand city with an anti-gang patch law. The Wanganui City Council this week announced it was seeking to add the Rebels patch to its list of banned gang insignia.
Palmerston North mayor Jono Naylor said the city council had supported moves by Local Government New Zealand last year to provide all councils with the power to invoke an anti-gang patch bylaw without the need for legislation.
The moves were not backed by the Government, but Mr Naylor said the city would consider lobbying for a private member's bill if it became an issue in Palmerston North.
"I think it was a couple of months ago that I literally saw the first gang patch in town that I had seen for a few years," he said.
"If it started to become a problem, and if in our conversations with police we are told it would be a good way to deal with them, then we would definitely look into it."
Police have said some of the Rebels sighted in New Zealand were formerly members of the Tribesman Motorcycle Club.
Mr Amas said he was unaware of any collusion among gangs here.
