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One of South Australia's top cops says the state's new anti-gang laws could be used to combat motorbike, street and youth gangs and that they could be applied in New Zealand.
South Australian police Assistant Commissioner Tony Harrison told the Herald even though the legislation only came into force on September 4 he expected to be in a position to "declare" an organisation soon.
Declaring an organisation meant police had to apply to the Attorney-General when they were satisfied the group existed for criminal purposes or was a risk to public safety.
"If this application is successful, we will then apply for control orders to be placed on the individual members of that declared organisation," Mr Harrison said yesterday.
Control orders restrict who the member can contact, the places they visit and the weapons they have - effectively banning gangs. Breaching these orders is punishable by up to five years in jail.
He said the laws were quite generic in their application so they could be used to combat gangs and organisations of any form including motorcycle gangs, street and youth gangs and organised crime.
The law could be applied to situations in other countries, he said.
Corrections Minister Phil Goff has said he would personally evaluate the law and if it worked in Australia he was 100 per cent in favour of it.
Police management wouldn't comment on the proposal yesterday but Police Association president Greg O'Connor wanted the law copied here.
"There's no silver bullet, but laws like those in South Australia turn up the pressure and make gang lifestyles less comfortable and less attractive," Mr O'Connor said.
He pointed to the "world-leading" anti-gang legislation other Australian states had and urged New Zealand politicians to examine them closely.
Other Australian laws include asset seizure laws in Western Australia and banning people who intimidate from public places in New South Wales.
"We don't like coming second to Australia in anything, but if there was a Bledisloe Cup for anti-gang laws, they would clean up," Mr O'Connor said.
He said New Zealand law enforcement was dragging the chain and that gangs had become true organised crime syndicates, having "raced ahead" on the back of the P trade.
"We have yet to even see effective asset seizure legislation passed. The Police Association actually highlighted the South Australian laws as long ago as November last year. But as far as police officers are concerned, it's never too late to start.
"Getting on top of gangs requires a sustained, co-ordinated attack at all levels. The big positive for New Zealand is we don't have to look far to find a wide range of ideas and approaches, all being tested in the real world," Mr O'Connor said.
He said New Zealand should pick and mix the best of them to reverse the alarming growth of our gang problem.
Green MP Keith Locke said a ban would only drive the gangs further into the criminal underground.
"Bans don't get to the root of the problem, which is to provide young people with better alternatives," he said.
"The key to this is ending poverty and making sure every young person has a decent education and good career prospects."
United Future leader Peter Dunne said it was undeniable that New Zealand had a problem with violent gangs, but merely cracking down on gangs and throwing members in prison would not solve the overall problem.
