Simon Bridges has told a packed room in Tauranga that we need to harass and disrupt gangs

Police and security staff stood guard over at the meeting, organised by the Opposition leader to discuss gang violence in the Bay of Plenty.

Those in attendance included at least one patched gang member - and the Mongrel Mob's PR spokesperson, who got heckled when she tried to take the stand.

Bridges says when he moved to Tauranga as a crown prosecutor in 2001, he didn't see much gang activity - but claims that's now changed.