Police issue more than 180 infringements over weekend

Nelson Tasman police issued more than 180 infringement notices and arrested 12 people during Operation Silkie - the response to a gathering of Mongrel Mob Barbarians in Lee Valley over the weekend.

Tasman District Commander, Superintendent Tracey Thompson, says overall police are generally pleased with attendees’ compliance with the law, including the Gangs Act 2024.

“Our role in policing events like this is to ensure the public is able to go about their business safely and to provide reassurance, as well as enforcing the law and ensuring people’s safety,” she says.

As at 4pm on Sunday, more than 2800 breath screening tests had been conducted since Friday morning, at a number of road checkpoints in and around the Nelson area.

These checkpoints produced only two evidential breath tests - one between 250 and 400 micrograms, and another more than 400 micrograms.

The 12 arrests included offending such as breaching bail, breach of release conditions, possession of drugs, and driving-related offences.

There was also one breach of the Gangs Act – for wearing gang insignia – on Friday.

In total, 182 infringements notices were issued across the operation, which brought in officers from across Tasman and Canterbury, and three vehicles were impounded. Tracey says there were locals police spoke to who were pleased and reassured with the police presence.

“And our message to gang members is simple – we will not hesitate to enforce the law, including the new Gangs Act, and the way to avoid our further attention is to comply with the law.

“It’s pleasing to see that, on the whole, most are doing so, and we want to reassure the public that we will continue to hold people who break the law to account.”

A large number of attendees at the gathering left Nelson on Sunday, however, police maintained a stronger presence in the area until Monday.