A worried Hamilton community is expressing their fear and venting their anger in community groups online about the perception of threat posed by an online flyer promoting an organised street fight in the city tomorrow.
Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate has expressed her shock at this brazen event flyer titled “Battle of the Hoods 2023” that is reportedly going around some city schools also.
It contains language that would shock any person, stating “weapons aloud” and “stab for stab” and dates the event is scheduled for 3pm on Friday, 10 February. Location mentioned is “meet up spot at the ****(hidden)…then carrys on all around town.”
Planning goes to the extent of mentioning alternate location of “****(hidden) Park next day (11 Feb) if “theres pigs***”. Mention of weapons is also there in the flyer.
Local police authorities are aware of this advertised event where parties are planning to fight one another, and have advised community groups not to share information in the flyer or about the event.
“Police will be deployed to the area and will be actively monitoring for any unlawful activity, taking enforcement action if and when appropriate,” Police says.
Some schools are also on high alert, and the local Sacred Heart Girls College also has emailed parents to stay alert and prevent their wards from going to the location of the proposed organised fight tomorrow(NewsViews has chosen not to name it).
The fight poster also mentions three Hamilton neighbourhoods – “Fearfield(sic) Nawton Melville” that appear to be areas to which they belong. These are considered as socio-economic backward areas and have been scenes of street fights earlier also.
But in spite of the Police advice, this event is still being shared/commented on social media. Some community group admins , though, have removed the related posts, or disallowed further comments/posts.
Several parents, understandably, are worried about safety of their children, and have been suggesting or thinking themselves of keeping their school going kids home tomorrow.
“They are kids, (but) still don’t underestimate them,” comments one person.” “Is it a diversion smoke screen or a politic stunt for votes…who knows .One thing I do know is il help protect the people and children of Hamilton,” the person adds.
Expressing her disappointment, Mayor Southgate says she is “shocked, disgusted and disappointed to hear about an organised fight in Hamilton in the next few days, and that it has been promoted and shared on social media.
“The police, our hardworking City Safe staff at Council, and other agencies, are all taking this situation very seriously. We have a zero tolerance policy for these kinds of threats. I strongly condemn violence of any kind taking place in our city,” she says.
Kelvin Powell, City Safe Unit Manager for the Hamilton City Council has also assured efforts are being made to ensure safety of staff and others.
“Our Hamilton City Council City Safe Team is fully aware of the reported details of the event and is liaising closely with police on the matter. We are taking steps to make sure our staff on the ground are kept safe, and others should avoid both areas at the proposed times,” Powell said.
Many city residents are hoping this planned fight event is a prank, nothing more than that.
“But better to be safe than sorry,” as one commented, and Mayor Southgate also said prank or not, the authorities were taking it very seriously.
With Police and Hamiltonians vigilant, it’s highly unlikely that any untoward incident may happen.
What is happening to this town and this country. we need to bring it back under control with strict diciplinary action againt this sort of terrorism
Likely to be a hoax, but still those behind it should not go scot-free