Shop owners feel intimidated by gangs

Members of the Invercargill business community have approached police to raise concerns about Mongrel Mob gang members wearing gang patches, regalia and colours in their shops.

Police say it is understandable some business owners are feeling intimidated by the behaviour and that they are concerned it would affect potential customers entering or remaining on their premises.

Southland Chamber of Commerce members have been reassured by Southland police that business owners and managers have the legal right to refuse entry, and ask people wearing such clothing to leave. In a Facebook post, the chamber says ‘‘we appreciate this is not an easy thing to ask a member of the public to do and Southland police are more than happy to assist with this if required’’.

They asked anyone concerned to raise any issues with the police.

Inspector Mike Bowman said he had heard that some members of the public felt intimidated by the presence of patched gang members in businesses.

He would not comment on what businesses were involved, and said he did not know whether a certain type of business was being targeted.

The Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premises Act makes it a criminal offence to wear this insignia into government buildings but it does not apply to private businesses.