Acting Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Baird has appealed to Southlanders who witnesses, or have any information about, gang activity to report it to police.

“We are always closely scrutinising gang activity in our area and will take a firm and proactive approach to any offending,” he said.

His comments follow the laying of charges this week in connection with an alleged aggravated robbery and kidnapping.

“The swift response to this offending shows police will not tolerate this sort of behaviour in the Southland community,” he said.