Community backs police following attacks

A man who attacked two police officers in Huntly on Christmas Day is being urged to turn himself in before the local community does.

Western Waikato area commander Inspector Paul Carpenter said investigators had been buoyed by the response of residents who say the attack has nothing to do with the spirit of their town.

``We are following strong leads in relation to identifying and hopefully locating the main offender and others involved and feedback from residents suggests Huntly locals were just as appalled about what happened as police.''

Mr Carpenter said residents had left information with the anonymous Crimestoppers service and urged the attacker to hand himself in.

Meanwhile a Northland man who tried to incite a crowd in a Hamilton bar by referring to the Christmas Day attack on two police officers in Dargaville is facing aggravated robbery charges.

Senior Sergeant Andrew O'Reilly said an intoxicated man began chanting ``Dargaville, Dargaville'' as officers carried out a routine check of a Victoria St bar overnight.

Mr O'Reilly said the 21-year-old's behaviour was ``stupid and inflammatory'', particularly because he was wanted in relation to a pre-Christmas aggravated robbery in Dargaville.