Police raid sees 34 people arrested

105 properties searched

Thirty-four people have been arrested and 105 properties searched after a Hamilton police operation targeting dishonest and violent offenders.

The results come from phase two of Operation Persil – where police target the city's recidivist burglars, violent and dishonest criminals – carried out over the past two days. It comes after 30 city properties were searched and 18 people were arrested for property and violence offences during the first phase last month.

Tactical co-ordinator Senior Sergeant Greg Dunn said they sought offenders with outstanding fines and warrants to arrest linked to burglary, violence and receiving goods. "It's all about keeping our offenders off balance, working on the `anywhere, any time theory' where we hope it becomes too uncomfortable for them to risk offending, not adhere to court imposed conditions or try to avoid fines."

Mr Dunn said Operation Persil was an ongoing initiative utilising a recently combined tactical unit tasked with halting the seasonal spike in residential burglaries. "The arrests weren't our only success, those we missed we missed by very narrow margins. In some cases wanted people were aware we were after them had abandoned their accommodation as early as 3am. We hope these people will realise they can't avoid facing up to the judicial system and the pressure on them to stop offending." BELINDA FEEK