Fast forward

Gang members facing fines for wearing patches in Wanganui's Victoria Avenue are taking legal action to stop Work and Income from making deductions from their benefits.

They have also lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission, claiming the ban on their patches and associated insignia unfairly punishes Wanganui members and their partners and children.

"No-one's paid a fine and no-one's going to," an affected member told The Wanganui Times yesterday. "The police can't do this. They can't take our patches when we haven't done anything wrong. These patches belong to us."

The members taking the action, who are understood to be on benefits and may qualify for legal aid, have hired a lawyer to gain an injunction and fight the ban.

Two weeks ago members filed their complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

Though the fines were due for payment this month none were willing to pay, the affected member said.

One partner claimed her nine-year-old son had watched in tears as his father was arrested on Victoria Avenue last week.

Three gang members arrested in the confrontation appeared in Wanganui District Court yesterday on joint display of insignia charges.

Wanganui Council's tough new national policy, designed to sidestep the Bill of Rights, follows a two-year legal battle to get gang insignia banned.

Gang members have been angry about losing their patches to police but say they are easy enough to replace.

"It's a waste of their time and our money, oops, sorry, that's your money, aye?" a laughing member told the Times.