9. CHESTER BORROWS (National—Whanganui) Link to this
to the Minister of Police
What reports has she received regarding the Government’s plans to clamp down on criminal gang activity?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS (Minister of Police) Link to this
I have received a report from New Zealand Police endorsing the Government’s plan to clamp down on criminal gang activity. The Gangs and Organised Crime Bill will make it easier for the police to conduct surveillance of gang communications, and will enhance police investigations by enabling interception warrants to be obtained for a wider group of offences committed by gangs. The police will be very pleased to have this tool once it passes through this Parliament.
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
The Gangs and Organised Crime Bill will mean that more of these gang fortifications can and will be removed. The police have welcomed the Government’s intention to increase the number of successful raids on these fortifications, and the police aim to maximise the effectiveness of this change. The police are also undertaking further work to identify other initiatives to tackle gang fortifications and gang activities.
Why is the Government clamping down on gangs, and how does the Government’s approach to gangs differ from the previous Government’s approach?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
The Labour Government’s record on gangs was one of dithering and hand-wringing. It failed to produce any laws that would reduce gang powers—
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
—and in that particular case that member will have read about the appalling incident reported in today’s Dominion Post about a Lower Hutt mother who was forced to flee from her home and community with her children, after being terrorised by Mongrel Mob gang members. Under that Government, that was tolerated; under this Government, it is not.
David GarrettWill the Minister consider introducing laws, such as those enacted in South Australia, that make gangs illegal organisations; if so, when can we expect to see such measures before this House?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
I understand that that South Australian law has been in force for only a couple of months. I understand that the Leader of the Opposition went over with the transport spokesperson, but not the law and order spokesperson, to look at that law after it had been working for a couple of months. The Minister of Justice is intending to go. We will look at how that law actually operates, and at just how successful it really is. If it is successful, we will certainly be looking at doing that.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
How will the situation in the Hutt be helped by the decision under this Government to take police out of the upper part of the Hutt Valley—where Pōmare is—as already announced, and take them to Auckland?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
That member is quite wrong, and if he did any basic work as a local MP he would know that. That member should remember that this Government will give 600 extra police to the whole of New Zealand, including 300 in Counties-Manukau. If that member did the most basic work as a constituency MP, he would have been along to see the local police and would have been told that.
Hon Trevor Mallard Link to this
How can that be consistent with the decision that was announced last week to strip senior staff out of the Hutt Valley?
Hon JUDITH COLLINS Link to this
If that member did the most basic work as a constituency MP, he would have realised that the local commander has in fact asked to consult on how the police can best police that area. That would involve the member in taking some initiative and going to speak to the police, and giving the local commander the benefit of constituents’ views. But I understand that member does not really care very much about the Hutt Valley any more.