'Cowardly bullies' trap security guard
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IAN STEWARD
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Boy racers who trapped and attacked a lone female security guard near Christchurch International Airport are "cowardly bullies", says Police Minister Judith Collins.
Hoons used their cars to box in the middle-aged Aviation Security Service (Avsec) officer's car as she made a routine check of the airport's perimeter in Pound Rd at 10.30pm on Wednesday.
As she rounded a bend she came across about 100 boy racers, some of whom approached her car, smashing the driver's window and two passenger windows with what were thought to be bottles.
Avsec general manager Mark Everitt said that as the woman went to drive away, a car pulled in front of her, while others followed behind.
"The car in front was right up against the bonnet. It was like they had her imprisoned," he said. "She was really scared. She didn't think she was going to get out of it."
Everitt said the boy racers left a short time later, probably realising she had called for assistance. The unnamed officer was covered in shattered glass but was otherwise unhurt.
She was "severely shaken" and was now on leave.
Collins said the "appalling" incident had strengthened her resolve to pass laws to curb boy racers.
"It's very difficult to bully people when your car is crushed into a little cube," she said.
The attack "displayed the truly criminal element that is part of the illegal street-racer scene". "It's the terrorising of people that occurs in the mob mentality," Collins said.
Everitt said the woman was an experienced security officer and was "handling it pretty well at the moment".
Avsec officers regularly patrolled the airport, usually staying within the perimeter, he said.
Boy racers were not normally a problem in the area on a week night, but Avsec would review its procedures, Everitt said.
He had been heartened by messages of support and offers of assistance to the woman from Christchurch residents and Mayor Bob Parker.
The attack comes four months after Christchurch police officer Nigel Armstrong was attacked by boy racers in Wigram Rd and a day after Collins introduced tough new laws to seize and crush boy racers' cars and outlaw "cruising".
Parker said the attack was a "disgusting, cowardly" act perpetrated by "thugs".
Boy racers were "approaching the social space that has been filled in the past by patched gangs".
"I shudder when I imagine how frightened that poor woman was when she was set upon by a mob in a prolonged incident from which she could not escape," Parker said. "If they can take the patches off gang members in Wanganui, then we can take cars off these thugs. Their vehicles are their patch."
Police did not attend the incident as the boy racers had disappeared by the time it was reported, but an investigation had started, northern area commander Inspector Dave Lawry said.
Last year, Parker banned boy racers from Pound Rd using council bylaws.
He said the road ban was nothing more than an extra tool for police to use.
Did you see this group of boy racers? Email reporters@press.co.nz
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Police should have helicopters made available to them to monitor boy racers from the air and have backup from the army and Corrections Department when moving in on them. Road spikes in the choppers would enable the police to land and block off the thugs' escape route before they get a chance to flee.
Shirly I have allready stated my reasons in post 35, i am the same Scott in all of these posts. I have had enough of all of you thinking were all the same, if you are gonna think im as bad as these clowns causing the crap then sweet as ill act like them too, and i dont care anymore, dont give two hoots.
Chch is ours dont like it leave...
Scott. If they are 'rapists, P freaks, drunk drivers' why the hell are u hanging out with them? Call the cops if stuff like that happens. you should be calling the cops anyway if they are drink driving, you sound irresponsible! as much as you would like to think it, the streets are not yours. I admit that a few years I would cruise round town in convoys. I still would if it was safe to do so and a bit of completely harmless fun. its a few people that are ruining our beautiful city , and you sound like you are one of them. Chch is one of the best places in the world buddy but people like you are pulling that down, doesnt matter what kind of car you have or even if you are a passenger, its called respect! look in a dictionary, find out what it means, and use it.
outragous, what would have happened if it had happened to a member of the public who had driven past? they wouldn't have been able to call for help from fellow officers. my mum used to do that job in aviation and in no right do they deserve that, they are doing their job which is to protect airport security. Christchurch is a beautiful city and it is getting a really bad reputation because of a few egg heads. hope they get dobbed in and locked away.
@ Jason Hepi - Your response to Mac was totally unnecessary, the public are fed up and he is entitled to his opinion as much as anyone. Boy racers put a lot of us in unnecessary danger - there have been people attacked, pedestrians hit and killed, even their own friends run over. It is a problem and the biggest problem is the mentality of them when they form their huge groups - we can all sound tough when we sit in comfort voicing our 2 cents worth, but the fact is, I think we all feel totally helpless.
Scott, if you don't want to be tarred with the same brush as your "FRIENDS" who attacked the lone female security guard, don't congregate or associate with them. You are no better than them if you are there, watching, witnessing and condoning their actions. Why didn't you go to the ladies aid? You could see she was in an unenviable situation. How would you have felt if that had been your sister or mother?
Its crazy that we send out unarmed security gaurds and police into dangerous places at night alone. The time has come to arm our police and also allow security gaurds to carry arms so they can protect themselves from such situations. I gaurantee 100 boy racers armed with bottles are not going to mess with armed police or security.
I see Parker has his foot in his mouth as usual "Their vehicles are their patch" - for one thing all patched members are gang members, you have no idea if a given car holds "boy racers" within or not... even if they are, 99% are normal people, out for a good time. They may make a bit of noise, which is why they are targeted by police but who would never assault someone like what happened to the poor security guard
100 cars. Do you guys really believe they all hung around to watch? 1) As soon as a car with authority came around the bend, most would have left within 30 seconds, without looking back. 2) it was at night, the only people that would have seen who or what was in the car was the criminals who assaulted her. 3) it only takes 2 cars with nut-bars driving to do the damage people are frothing at the mouth and trying to attribute to 100 cars. It's idiotic
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#47 - has to be said - a lot of the comments on here are unnecessary!! but Im not the one inciting violence and agression - its people like Mac jumping on a bandwagon! Unless you having something constructive to say dont be sitting there waffling bout how one group of society needs killing!! which is what your advocating.!