Bandit patch ban: first 24 hours

The first arrest was made just three minutes after the law took effect on Thursday. Police said 12 people were caught on the first day of the new gang patch ban.

A new law banning gangs from appearing in public places came into force just after midnight on Thursday.

Assistant Commissioner Paul Basham said several arrests and charges were made in the first 24 hours of the ban:

Meanwhile, gang members had already adapted their insignia to circumvent the ban, while others warned of potential violence.

But the police and government were adamant: the ban would work and make the situation safer.

Waitemata

At 7:40 p.m., officers on foot patrol at the Henderson Night Markets saw a man wearing a Bounty Hunters sweatshirt.

A 27-year-old man was arrested and charged.

He is due to appear in the Waitakere District Court on November 27.

Counties Manukau

At 10.35am, officers patrolling the Papakura area saw a man wearing a Mangu Kaha badge outside a house in Rosehill.

The 51-year-old initially refused to hand over his badge to officers, but eventually did so.

He was arrested and charged with displaying gang insignia in a public place.

He is due to appear in Papakura District Court on November 28, 2024.

Meanwhile, police were called to Porchester Road, Takanini, at 1.40pm following reports that a man wearing a gang badge had stolen a car.

Police found the car nearby and then the alleged perpetrator, a 51-year-old Mangu Kaha member, in Otara.

Waikato

Hamilton police saw a man wearing a Mongrel Mob T-shirt entering the fast food restaurant on Linden Court at 2 p.m.

A 41-year-old man was arrested and charged with displaying gang insignia in a public place, and his T-shirt was confiscated by police.

He is due to appear in Hamilton District Court on November 28.

Meanwhile, at 11.15pm, officers conducting a traffic stop on Tristram Street saw the driver wearing a Mongrel Mob cap.

The cap was seized and the 35-year-old man was issued a summons on charges of publicly displaying gang insignia.

Bay of Plenty

Tauranga Police received a report of a patched gang member riding an unmarked motorcycle on Highway 29 at 11.40am.

Officers, who later saw the same motorcycle traveling to an Arataki address, conducted a search of the address where they found a Greazy Dog patch and helmet.

They were confiscated and the 44-year-old will be summoned to court at a later date on charges of displaying gang insignia in a public place and driving while suspended.

Meanwhile, Rotorua police arrested a 20-year-old man on Ngongotaha Road at 3.10pm for breaching bail conditions.

The man was wearing a Mongrel Mob T-shirt and also had a number of weapons with him.

The T-shirt and weapon were confiscated and the man was charged with publicly displaying gang insignia and possession of an offensive weapon.

He is due to appear in Rotorua District Court on Friday.

Eastern District

The first person to be caught by the law was a 51-year-old man from Napier.

He was stopped by police in Southampton Street, Hastings, at 12.03am after officers saw a large ‘Mazda Mutts’ sign on the dashboard of his car.

The man was issued a summons to appear in court at a later date for publicly displaying gang insignia, and the insignia was confiscated.

At 11.05am, Wairoa police stopped a car driven by the patched-up Mongrel Mob member.

A Mongrel Mob cap was confiscated and a 27-year-old man was arrested and charged with displaying gang symbols in a public place.

He is due to appear in Wairoa District Court on Friday.

At 1.20pm, Wairoa police spotted a man wearing a Mongrel T-shirt at a store on Paul Street.

The T-shirt was seized and the 45-year-old man was arrested and charged with publicly displaying gang insignia.

The man also faces charges of burglary and receiving stolen property and is due to appear in Gisborne District Court on Friday.

Police also spotted a man wearing a Mongrel Mob cap at a petrol station on Havelock Road, Havelock North, at 11.45pm.

The cap was confiscated and the 35-year-old man was later summonsed to court on charges of publicly displaying gang insignia.

Tasman

Police were called to a Stoke address after a Westside member was spotted in public wearing a gang badge.

Police found the 30-year-old man and seized a gang patch.

The man was later summonsed to court on charges of publicly displaying gang insignia.

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