Western Bay of Plenty Area Commander Inspector Clifford Paxton is refusing to influence community discussion on legal highs and gang patch bans.

During a presentation of his regular report to the Tauranga City Council's Community Development Committee this week, he said as police are likely to be enforcing any results of the legal high discussion, the debate is a matter for the community and not the agency that will be asked to enforce it.

Western Bay of Plenty Area Commander Inspector Clifford Paxton.

He gave the same response when questioned by councillor Clayton Mitchell about his proposed gang patch ban.

Clayton says the motorcycle clubs Filthy Few and Greasy Dogs wear their patches in Mount Maunganui and in Greerton elderly residents are fearful of patched Black Power and Mongrel Mob gang members.

Clifford says the community debate cannot be led by police.

The police must remain uninvolved on matters they may be asked to police, but they will be guided by the community decision, he says.

On legal highs he told councillor Matt Cowley there isn't enough information available to show whether the harm done by legal highs has increased or decreased since the substances have been on open sale.

Clifford says when something is frequently reported it is difficult to gauge if there is actually an increase in incidents.

'It's still at a very early stage so it's difficult to say what the effects are. But the increase in reporting is noted.”