“The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight” says Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Minister when the law banning gang insignia comes into effect.
“Gang insignia will be banned in all public places, courts will be able to issue non-consorting orders, and police will be able to stop criminal gang members from associating and communicating, as committed to in the National, Act and NZ First coalition agreements,” the ministers said in a joint statement.
Questions have been raised about how they will enforce this ban but Assistant Commissioner Paul Basham said police had been working behind the scenes for the past six months in preparation.
He said 77 dedicated Gang Disruption Officers, supported by another 25 roles in the National Gang Units, would take the lead in establishing how the police would enforce the patch ban.
Paul Goldsmith said this was a part of a goal to reduce violent crime.
“Its all part of a broader effort that the idea is to reduce the number of victims at a target of 20,000 by 2029, obviously we want to get progress going faster than that.”
Goldsmith said a “clear signal” had been sent to gangs, and the government response was shifting.
Photo Credit: Otago Daily Times
