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Being a member of a criminal gang could earn you 10 years in jail under proposed law changes announced by the Government yesterday.
Judges can already sentence criminals to a maximum of five years in jail if their offences were carried out as part of an organised crime group.
Yesterday Justice Minister Mark Burton revealed that the Government intended to amend the Crimes Act to double that sentence to 10 years, as well as expand police powers to conduct surveillance operations against gangs. Further provisions to toughen laws governing gangs were also under active consideration, Mr Burton said.
The Government promised tougher laws on gangs after a gang-related drive-by shooting in Wanganui which killed two-year-old Jhia Te Tua. Jhia's father was a Black Power member: several Mongrel Mob members face charges related to the shooting.
The Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Bill is already before Parliament, which if passed will mean the authorities can more easily confiscate the proceeds of criminal activities from gangs. Mr Burton said yesterday's announcement clearly set out society's disapproval of gangs.
"It's saying very clearly that the community regards being part of an organised crime group as a serious matter which should carry with it serious penalties."
The Government also intends to amend the Sentencing Act to allow judges to consider gang membership as an aggravating factor when considering the penalty for crimes committed as part of an organised group.
National justice spokesman Simon Power said yesterday's announcement was virtually identical to the anti-gang policy he had outlined over the weekend at the National Party conference.
"The one thing he forgot was National's plan to strengthen the ability of police to remove and storm gang fortifications, and that's a shame because that will provide a vital weapon in dealing with this problem," Mr Power said.
"Labour has had eight years to do something significant about controlling gangs but they have simply let the problem drift."
New Zealand First law and order spokesman Ron Mark said he would support the proposed law change, but it would do nothing to take gangs off the streets.
"[It will not] take the patches off the streets ... and the intimidation which comes from gangs being present in the community and exerting their influence over that community."
