Anger over violence which has plagued Timaru since gang warfare erupted early in November brought more than 1000 people to a public meeting at Caroline Bay yesterday afternoon.
This anger dominated the meeting and was directed at a wide range of targets including the police, social welfare cuts, schools, news media, local and central government and the gangs themselves.
The Mayor of Timaru, Mr Archie Houstoun, said the gang problem was not new and had been in the city for a number of years but it seemed to have escalated.
"It is not just a police problem. It is a community problem and it is going to take us all - together - to do something about it."
There were a lot of nervous people in Timaru because of the violence and anti-social behaviours, Mr Houstoun said. It had also upset the image of the city.
The police district commander, Mr Brian Turnbull, said it was no use looking back - that was history and could not be changed.
"Today is day one and we should start from this meeting and look forward at the ways we can overcome the problems we have in Timaru."
The city had a serious gang problem and the publicity it had attracted had done Timaru no good at all, he said.
The gangs had been in Timaru for a long time. They had been policed to the best of the force's ability and were still there.
Unless something happened, possibly from the meeting, the gangs would be there in the future.
"It has been said that the gang problems is a policing problem. Our actions in the last 12 years have been within the law, but have not been successful. I am absolutely convinced that this is a community problem and only the community can solve that."
The community had to decide whether it wanted the gangs in the city, Mr Turnbull said. His comment brought cries of "no" from the crowd.
Mr Turnbull suggested the community approach the Prime Minister, Mr Bolger, to set up a Safer Community Council in Timaru, a proposal which was adopted unanimously by the meeting.
The use of a mediator in an attempt to talk to the gangs and resolve the situation was also advocated.
Some people called for tougher action to be taken by the police and judiciary against the gangs.
One woman suggested a curfew on all teenagers and was backed by a man who said his son was a gang associate, had done something wrong and was now on a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew.
"I know where that little . . . is at night," he said.
Another speaker questioned the bylaws and rights of the gangs to erect fortress fences around headquarters and several speakers maintained they should be pulled down.
The responsibility of parents for their children was also raised, with one suggestion that parents should stand with their children in court and be liable for restitution.
Several people suggested that the gangs should be ejected from the city. "They are the only role models teenagers have got," one man commented.
Police were also questioned as to why action was taken only last weekend to remove liquor and the bar from a gang headquarters when it had been there for a long time.
The same person also asked if action was going to be taken against the gang members when 13 and 14-year-old girls were found at the headquarters.
"You are not tough enough. Get tough or retire," one man told Mr Turnbull.
The Government was asked to urgently re-examine the non-consorting laws to stop intimidation of witnesses, lawlessness and physical violence.
After a speaker had attacked the way in which the news media had reported events in Timaru, a large majority of those at the meeting backed a proposal that details on gang activities not be published.