A judge has dismissed serious charges against two young Maori brothers -- who were stopped and searched by Northland police, because they looked like gang members

In a decision released to the Herald's Open Justice, Judge Greg Davis has condemned the officers' actions.

He found the two constables acted unlawfully and were biased in targeting a specific profile when they stopped the brothers and searched their car without a warrant.

According to the judge's decision, the officers blocked the brothers as they were reversing out of a driveway in the Whangarei suburb of Onerahi on January 2.

They had been scouring the suburb following reports of a confrontation involving Black Power members and a firearm.