Police reassure public

Residents are "perfectly safe" and Cromwell does not have a skinhead problem, police say.

Some residents anonymously expressed concern this week about what they thought was an emergence of skinhead troublemakers in the town, following an altercation on Saturday evening.

Detective Gary Hyndman, of Cromwell, said an officer was called to a disturbance at two residential addresses on Jollys Rd about 10.30pm.

Two women were allegedly assaulted and received minor injuries, a fence was damaged, bottles were thrown, and abuse yelled.

"It was a disturbance between two neighbouring properties, in the rear sections of those two addresses.

"Police received a number of calls from members of the public from that neighbourhood, who could all hear the yelling and glass breaking," he said.

An officer on duty in Cromwell attended the incident, and was later joined by an Alexandra officer.

Det Hyndman said no charges had been laid in relation to the altercation, although investigations by police were continuing.

"The officers quietened the situation down, and we are now investigating to ascertain whether charges should be laid against anybody from either address.

"There is a large number of people we want to talk to from both addresses and once we've spoken to them we will have a clearer picture of what happened," he said.

When asked whether those involved could be described as skinheads, Det Hyndman said some had "short hair" and others "long hair".

"I don't believe we have a skinhead problem as such.

"Police would like to reassure the public that they're perfectly safe in Cromwell, and if they have any concerns to contact us in the first instance," he said.

Det Hyndman said police believed the incident was isolated, although some residents within the neighbourhood had since spoken to officers about previous problems associated with the occupants of one address.

Police would take "assertive action" in respect of any offences committed, he said.