Keith Price: Napier City councillor and former police detective on gang problem in Hawkes Bay, warrant giving police extra search powers

A gang conflict warrant has been issued in the Hawke's Bay after shots were fired at homes in Wairoa on Tuesday, then again in Napier yesterday. 

It will give Police extra search powers for affiliates throughout the region. 

Napier City councillor and former police detective Keith Price talks to Tim Beveridge about the issue. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks Be follow
this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
So here we are again, gangs causing chaos in our
small towns. A gang conflict warrant has been issued in
the Hawks Bay, giving police extra search powers for affiliates
throughout the region. Shots were fired at homes and Widoor
on Tuesday, then again in Napier yesterday morning. There's been

(00:29):
assaults of vehicle, rammings, property damage and more. Napier City
Council and former police detective Keith Price joins me, good morning.

Speaker 2 (00:38):
Good morning.

Speaker 1 (00:39):
It's outrageous your community has to live with this violence
at the moment.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
Isn't it. It's outrageous that anyone has to live with
us violence, but especially for our city. We'd like to
think it's a nice safe place.

Speaker 1 (00:54):
The gang conflict warrant? How useful will this tool be
for the police?

Speaker 2 (01:00):
Having twenty years ago that I was on the police,
but I think it's a very very powerful tall have
that gives them the right to stop and search people
and houses without having to get a warrant so they
can react immediately.

Speaker 1 (01:17):
Can you pay a picture of how prevalent does it
feel to people within the community. Is this sort of
feel isolator or is it something that the whole community
is really up in arms about.

Speaker 2 (01:27):
Oh, I think that the whole community. That it does
affect the whole community because it just gives a little
bit of insecurity. But I think the fact that they
know the police have these powers does give a little
bit of a good feeling.

Speaker 1 (01:43):
How's the gang patch ban going and other crackdowns. Has
that made a difference in your town?

Speaker 2 (01:48):
Yeah? From what I've the feedback of here knows, it's
been outstanding. It takes away any intimidation that people may feel. Yeah,
I think it's a success story.

Speaker 1 (02:02):
How quickly do you hope this all wraps up? What's
your anticipation for this?

Speaker 2 (02:07):
I'd like to think it was yesterday that was all finished.
I'm a yesterday person. Obviously, the sooner the better. And
please are reacting to it, so that's great.

Speaker 1 (02:25):
Is it something where you hope we can knock this
on the head or is it it's still an ongoing
problem the gangs and we may have to bring these
use these tools again and again and again. What's your
view on what we're to from here?

Speaker 2 (02:38):
Well, it's a great tool. It's a very powerful tool
and obviously only to be used when when necessary, but
it will be a tool that will prevent or reduce
this type of behavior. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (02:55):
Okay, well, good luck with her all. I really appreciate
your time this morning, Keith. Thanks so much for more
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our podcast on iHeart Ready, Yo,