Residents ‘had enough’ as police hunt racer ram pair

Monday, 19 August 2024

Residents are calling for stricter action against illegal street racers as police hunt those seen in a white ute believed to have rammed a police car, narrowly missing officers in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Several videos from the incident in Horotiu, just north of the city are making rounds on social media after a ‘Hamilton Invasion’ meet drew hundreds of street racers to the area for illegal and dangerous drifting.

In the footage a white ute can be seen revving across an intersection from police before reversing at speed into a police car one of the officers suffer the impact, along with the car.

After that, another officer is seen hitting at the passenger window of the ute as it speeds from the scene.

The incident is met with shock and also cheering from the crowd, who also jeer at police.

In another video, about five to six police officers in two police cars are seen beating a retreat away from racers’ vehicles.

A nearby resident, who spoke to Waikato Times on the condition of anonymity fearing for his safety, said racers took to the streets in the area every Friday and Saturday for the last two years.

Noise and lights woke the couple in their 70s at 2am and they couldn’t sleep until 4am.

“Police hands are tied, they should be allowed to shoot them.

“I would if I had a gun,” said the resident.

“We have been pushed that far, we have broken sleeps every weekend.”

While it’s usually 150 to 200 people racing every weekend, Saturday attracted a crowd of nearly 400 people, he said.

The housing development next door meant more residents would be putting up with the disturbance, he added.

The couple had lived in the property for about eight years, but said the problem began two years ago.

He reckoned more exit points for the offenders to escape might be the reason.

“The police should have more power.

“They should have a truck with a wrecker on it, and bring it down here and just do it (crush cars) on the spot in front of the little shits.”

He saw about eight to ten police cars, a police wagon and two ambulances Saturday night.

“All those police could be doing something else.”

Inspector Neil Faulkner said police were seeking public help in identifying those involved and enforcement action would follow.

He said police initially received reports of a large gathering of cars and people at the intersection of Horotiu Road and Great South Road, around 2:15am on Sunday.

Attending staff initially dispersed the crowds and the vehicles moved on to converge near The Base in Northgate.

The crowd became increasingly hostile to police and “officers were put at serious risk due to the violent behaviour of many of those involved”.

Police were looking for the driver of the vehicle and a passenger captured on CCTV footage at a petrol station earlier to assist with their enquiries.

“The behaviour towards police was dangerous and it was fortunate that no staff or other members of the public were injured,” said Faulkner.

Four police vehicles were damaged by being rammed.

Police are committed to disrupting this activity by breaking it up when it occurs and holding offenders to account.

Faulkner said it was an example of how incredibly dangerous these situations can become.

Waikato District Council mayor Jacqui Church called the incident “absolutely shocking” and said it was poor behaviour by a small minority of youth, who had a gang mentality of coming together and being unlawful.

Church said there was an increase in behaviour undermining society with criminal intent.

A collective approach was needed to counter the antisocial behaviour, she said.

The local council was looking at bylaws, maintaining a close relationships with police with regards to information sharing, cameras and things like neighborhood support.

However, Church said, the district was a huge area and if the offenders were moved from the current location, they’d end up somewhere else in Waikato.

With 2500km of roads in Waikato, it was impossible and unaffordable to try and make every intersection uninviting for this sort of antisocial behaviour, she said.

Hamilton City mayor Paula Southgate said she was disappointed to hear about the incident.

“It's absolutely unacceptable to target the police who do such a good job and and have so much important work to do without having to attend to events like this.”

Southgate said it did not matter where the action took place, it was a shame it was happening at all.

“Especially when there is such a high element of antisocial and violent behaviour.”

Southgate it was not an easy fix but police were working on it.

Anyone who has information on illegal or unsafe activity to report this to Police via 105 with as much detail as possible.

Dashcam and video footage of the activity would also assist ongoing enquiries and those in possession of any footage are asked to provide that to Police.

Information can be provided online by clicking ‘update report’ https://www.police.govt.nz/use-105. Refer to file number 240818/1998

Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111

An earlier version of this story carried CCTV footage of two people sought by police in relation to the ramming. Police confirmed on August 19 they had been eliminated from the enquiries and were not involved in the incident. Amended 10.45am August 19, 2024.