Despite concerns that Napier residents do not feel safe due to gang activity, the mayor says banning patches isn’t the answer. On his Facebook page last week, Napier MP and former police minister Stuart Nash​ said Napier was “a wonderful, safe beautiful seaside city that is welcoming and warm”. “I would back this move, but central govt [sic] can’t implement this; only council can.”Stuff Napier Mayor Kirsten Wise says Napier had the second highest overall crime rate in the country. On Wednesday, Wise told Stuff she “personally struggled to believe that banning patches” would solve gang issues. Wise said the council had also partnered with “a range of agencies” as part of the international Safe Communities programme Safer Napier.

Source: Stuff April 07, 2021 04:52 UTC