Wanganui's gang culture has been dealt another blow with the town's Mongrel Mob president being jailed.
He was one of more than 60 gang-related arrests following the shooting of toddler Jhia Te Tua last year, and Wanganui has had a 7 per cent drop in crime since.
A proposed city bylaw that aims to reduce gang intimidation by banning gang colours and paraphernalia around the central city is due to be heard in Parliament next month.In the High Court at Wanganui yesterday, Mongrel Mob president Peter Nahona, 43, was sentenced to eight months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to sell methamphetamine.
Four other Mob members and associates - Adene Broughton, 33, Aaron Timoti, 27, Tiari Tipene, 31, and Daniel Wiari, 27 - were also jailed on drugs charges after telephone conversations between the men were intercepted during the massive police investigation into Jhia's murder.
Jhia, 2, daughter of Black Power member Josh Te Tua, was shot in the chest during a drive-by shooting on her Puriri St home on May 5.The attack came after a series of gang skirmishes that day, and 12 Mongrel Mob members and associates were later charged with her murder.More than 60 gang members were arrested on violence, firearm and drug related crimes during the six-week investigation.
"We're certainly not silly enough to say that taking some of the key players out of action did not contribute to the reduced crime level. It's a help but it's not everything," area commander Inspector Duncan McLeod said.With more Mongrel Mob members in jail, police had noticed an increased presence of Black Power and Tribesman, a gang fairly new to the region.
Next month Wanganui National MP Chester Borrows will present the Wanganui District Council (Prohibition of Gang Insignia) Bill to Parliament.Mr Borrows, who is a former police officer, said a police crack-down on Wanganui gangs in the mid-90s had also lowered crime, but later increases meant the gang bylaw was still necessary.
It had the full support of local and national police and had been given overwhelming approval in a council referendum.
"Concentration on gangs is a proven system to lower crime and Wanganui is now reaping the rewards of police action in the last year," he said.
"The bylaw is a way to keep up the pressure. It doesn't mean that every gang member will be charged with being a member of a criminal organisation but it can be used if deemed necessary."