A man who wore a hoodie with a swastika armband to a graduation parade in Dunedin has been warned for offensive behaviour by police.
Constable Nick Turner, of Dunedin, said police received reports of a man wearing a swastika armband at the intersection of Frederick and Great King Sts where crowds were starting to assemble for the Otago Polytechnic graduation parade about 11am on Thursday.
When the man was approached by police he took off in the direction of the University of Otago campus, Const Turner said.
Officers gave chase and the man was apprehended near Allpress Espresso in Emily Siedeberg Pl.
The man was wearing a hoodie linked to the Mongrel Mob, which had a swastika armband, although the man was not a member of the gang himself, Const Turner said.
The man told police he was wearing it out of respect for a deceased friend, who had been in the gang.
Police were aware he had been filming himself wearing the same item of clothing inside a mall in George St on Wednesday, Const Turner said.
The man told police he was unaware he was causing offence and turned the hoodie inside out when they pointed out it was not appropriate garb.
He was given a warning for offensive behaviour, Const Turner said.
