Gang members’ motorcycle antics slammed

POLICE have slammed the actions of a group of patched gang members who rode their motorcycles the wrong way up a oneway street in Dunedin on Thursday evening.

Sergeant John Hedges, of Dunedin, said police received several reports about 6.30pm of between 10 and 15 patched Tribesmen Motorcycle Club gang members riding the wrong way on State Highway 1 South in Cumberland St, near the Mobil service station, failing to stop for red lights and obstructing traffic.

‘‘Just complete arrogance really, and disrespect.’’

Two riders were sent ahead of the group to block the traffic coming through intersections from cross streets, in a manoeuvre reminiscent of security convoys for the Royal Family, Sgt Hedges said.

‘‘And [the riders] used their bikes to stop cars on green lights, so that their motorbikes could drive through red lights.

Police understood they had travelled from the North Island for the Burt Munro Challenge Rally, but were unsure exactly where the gang members were from.

While officers did not pull the gang members over at the time, witnesses had recorded the registration numbers of the bikes, and police would be catching up with the riders, Sgt Hedges said.

‘‘Once we have the regos, we’ll be away.’’

Witnesses reported gang members roaring around Dunedin yesterday morning on their motorcycles, before apparently heading south out of the city about 11am.

The Tribesmen Motorcycle Club was founded in Murupara in 1980 and has a chapter there, as well as in Rotorua and Otara, and a youth wing called the Killa Bees.

They are rivals of the Mongrel Mob but generally allies with Black Power.