Support for a new Police crackdown, on gang activity in Hawke's Bay and the Gisborne District

Tensions between Black Power and the Mongrel Mob have been on the rise, with assaults, threatening behaviour, and shootings at homes.

Police have now been granted a Gang Conflict Warrant, giving them special powers to search vehicles and seize firearms, weapons and vehicles.

Napier City Councillor and former Police officer Keith Price says the warrant is a powerful tool, and measures like the gang patch ban are already making a difference.

He says people have told him, the removal of patches takes away intimidation people may feel.