Police say they're having an impact on gangs -- despite a degree of public anxiety

Part of a road in the Auckland suburb of Grey Lynn was blocked off by police last week, after hundreds of gang members gathered outside a church for a funeral.

A Napier City Council community safety survey shows 44 per cent of people are more fearful of their safety because of gangs -- up from 17 per cent last year.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says he understands people are intimidated, but it's a very difficult area to deal with.

He says it's not an offence to be a member of a gang, and it's not an offence for gangs to gather.

Coster says Police focus on the offending and they're doing a good job at that.