OFF THE WIRE
ashburtonguardian.co.nz
Patched Rebels gang members are attempting to establish themselves in Ashburton, police say.
A number of patched Rebels gang members were seen in Ashburton yesterday and subsequent enquiries by the Guardian brought to light their attempts to infiltrate Ashburton.
The Rebels are an Australian biker gang which has been trying to establish a branch in New Zealand, but a police crackdown has been taking place around the country in a bid to prevent that establishment.
Ashburton Police senior sergeant Grant Russell told the Guardian that Rebels were trying to establish themselves in Ashburton, but the move was in its infancy and it was hoped it would not progress any further.
He classed the group as an "undesirable element" to the town and said his staff had been monitoring them, and would continue to do so.
But he said Ashburton also needed to make a stand against gangs if it wanted to keep them out.
While the handful of Rebels may have been most noticeable yesterday, they had been in Ashburton in bigger numbers recently, Mr Russell said. They had not caused significant problems so far.
"We are aware of some prospects in town, and some wannabes, and they will get the attention they need from us," he said.
But that was not new as other gangs had also been represented in the town in years gone by.
Mr Russell said he had one person phone him in relation to yesterday's appearance of the Rebels, saying they were intimidated and police should do something about it.
"But I said 'you tell me what legislation I can do that with'," he said.
"Unless they commit an offence it's not unlawful for them to be there."
Earlier this year, a fight outside an Ashburton bar involving people who identified themselves as Mongrel Mob and Black Power associates prompted Mr Russell to say Ashburton did have some associates and possibly gang members living in it, but the town did not have a gang problem.
He described them as idiots who appeared to be trying to flex their muscles and he urged people not to be intimidated, and report any bad behaviour to police.
