North Shore Gang Violence

karltsmith · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2004 9:52 pm Post subject: North Shore Gang Violence

16/1/04

This looks worrying!!! Lets hope its the exception rather than the rule! We're trying to get away from this sort of thing!

NZ HERALD

Charges follow axe rampage on North Shore

16.01.2004 4.22 pm

Police have charged a group of youths over a trail of damage, assaults and thefts in Auckland's Browns Bay last weekend.

The spree of violence was sparked when a group of Beachaven youths sought revenge last Saturday night for an earlier attack on one of them, police said.

Armed with a long-handled axe and baseball bat, the gang went hunting for its rivals on Browns Bay beachfront.

Parked cars, some with occupants in them, were allegedly attacked with windows smashed. The occupant of one was dragged from the vehicle and asked for money before items were taken from the car, police said.

The group then took a wallet from a person sitting on a seat before attacking the seat with the axe.

A petrol station in Glenfield was damaged before the group dispersed later that night.

"Seven youths have been arrested and face a variety of charges including unlawful assembly, intentional damage, aggravated robbery, assault and theft," acting Detective Sergeant Scott Armstrong said.

Two other youths are yet to be located by police and a 10th has been referred to Youth Aid, he said.

The accused have appeared in North Shore District Court this week and remanded to January 27.

- NZPA

dan-ish · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2004 10:23 pm Post subject: Scary

Hey Karl,

This does indeed sound scary. I once worked at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Glenfield, providing hot coffee to passers-by from a hot urn that I had to carry on my back! Oh those were the days Rolling Eyes

I have often heard of gang violence in NZ - you've all seen Once Were Warriors, right? I was under the impression that it didn't particularly affect people who weren't involved in gangs themselves, though.

Surely London, Manchester, Nottingham (and unfortunately Birmingham nowadays) are much worse in certain areas for gang/violent crime? I always felt very safe in Auckland at anytime of day or night. Likewise Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton. I know NZ cities aren't crime-free, but they are undoubtedly an improvement on most cities in England. Nice One

Dan-ish

karltsmith · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2004 11:00 pm Post subject:

Hi Dan,

I agree...in the Greater Birmingham area I would estimate 2 murders per month over the last year or so! Gang violence is also rife. Sometimes you can't help being in the wrong place at the wrong time can you?....thats all it takes!

I didn't want to scaremonger or anything I know NZ is a big improvement over Blighty on that score but it's a worrying headline when thats where you're planning to move to!

Karl (Birmingham the real home of The Lord of the Rings)[/u]

Charlotte · I Like It Here Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Posts: 70

Yeah, I just read that in the Herald, too.

I think I'm favouring windy Wellington over sunny Auckland, this morning.

*Sigh*. I really have to make up my mind soon. Nutcase

Taffy · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:43 am Post subject:

There is one fundamental difference between that sort of thing happening in NZ over it happening in the UK.

Note the line where it says '7 people were arrested and will be charged'?? Did you all see that bit?

If that was UK it would be 'There were no witnesses, probably just rowdy kids who were bored, nothing we can do, kids will be kids.'

So you see, there is a huge difference in as much as NZ police do their job and catch people who are a threat to society, whereas UK police find it hard to find the time to catch criminals, what with all their time being taken up replacing films in speed cameras.

You will probably never escape things like these, but wouldnt you rather be in a place that at least takes this stuff seriously?!

This has been a party political broadcast for the 'Fans of New Zealand' party cool

veronica · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 2:15 am Post subject:

thats seems a bit harsh. over here the police have to deal with much denser population and urban sprawl than NZ and these things bring there own problems.
Don't go over there thinking NZ is perfect otherwise you wil be in for a rude awakening. OK we are emmigrating but we are going with realistic expectations and for us personally going from a semi rural environment to a town we are probably going to find a higher crime/aggravation rate than we have here.
There's issues with both countries., try going to sleep in Christchurch town centre on a Friday and Saturday night with the boy racers revving up and down Columbo st. then the police sirens as they go after them!! Walk past a group of Maori and Islander youths loitering, they are just as intimidating as our local variety here at home. Its not Paradise it just offers different opportunities.
Veronica

Taffy · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 3:25 am Post subject:

Maybe you are lucky enough to live in an area where the police are useful (or perhaps you work for them?!). In the past 2 months i've had my car vandalised by kids, windows broken and various other things, as have some of my neighbours. The best response time from the police has been -->2 HOURS<-- (you may note at this stage, the police station is honestly 200 yards away from my street!!) by which time the culprits have gone. All we get is 'nothing we can do sorry, its just kids', which means I constantly have to pay for repairs. Maybe its harsh to blame the police themselves, but I'm afraid UK law is severely flawed and only ever protects the criminal (meaning if i was to catch one of those kids wrecking my property, I would be the one who gets in trouble, not them).

Anyway, its like i said, you probably will never get away from crime no matter where you move.. an interesting program that's on Reality TV (Sky Digital) called 'Police' follows the NZ Police around. I cant give times and dates for this program as it seems to come on as and when they like to show it! But its a real eye opener as to some of the problems experienced in NZ, much of which are like the UK. You are totally correct, veronica, when you say people shouldn't move abroad with blinkers on, thinking its all sunshine and light. Every country has its problems, and anyone seriously considering moving away should look in to this side, as well as the good stuff!

veronica · Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2004 5:28 am Post subject:

As you say I'm lucky enough to live in a rural area and the couple of times we have needed the police they have been prompt and efficient, (even to the point of clocking me on the speed camera) and no I don't work for them, there is no way I would put myself in the firing line getting abused by both criminals and members of the public.
The area you live in, whether it be NZ or UK, will affect the crime rate so if its a real issue with you, study your suburbs before you buy or rent, cheap houses often mean an unruly area where perhaps you wouldn't want to live and every city has its better and not so good areas. Surprised me when we were told that the beach suburbs in christchurch weren't so good, maybe its a cunning ploy by the locals to keep the beach to themselves.
Veronica

Taffy · Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2004 5:05 am Post subject:

An interesting article for you to read..

http://www.propertytalk.co.nz/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=97

This is pretty much the same problem myself and my neighbours face...