Gang bills spark debate

A set of bills strengthening laws used against gangs sparked passionate debate in Parliament yesterday before being passed into law.

Between them they will give police, courts and local authorities greater powers in terms of monitoring, disrupting and sentencing those who take part in organised criminal groups.

The bills, opposed by the Maori Party and Greens, passed 108-14.

Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell said there were better ways to deal with gangs than ramping up enforcement and imprisonment.

Gang and community engagement was more effective than "short-term hysterics" such as putting offenders in jail and throwing away the key.

Communities needed to be empowered so they could help deal with issues on their own terms.

Mr Flavell referred to a situation in Murupara where two young people had been murdered in the past year. The town's community had recently imposed a rahui - a prohibition of violence in their town - and banned patches on a local marae.

Mr Flavell said he had no issue with criminals being punished, but called for a "balance between enforcement and restoration".

Labour MP Shane Jones took offence at claims from the Maori Party that gang members were "our people".

"Stop calling them our people; they are not our people," he said.

"Our people don't go to jail for killing teenage boys, our people don't go to jail for raping, selling P and celebrating it as a mark of distinction and success.

"They're not our people. In fact they are not people ... They are the slaves that would have been dispatched before Christianity without a sliver of doubt."

National MP Sandra Goudie said gangs could be as savvy as anyone else in keeping up with technological advances and were much more sophisticated than they used to be.

It was important police were given the tools needed in their drive and keep on top of their offending, she said.

Parliament split the original Gangs and Organised Crime Bill into three measures: the Crimes Amendment Bill, Local Government Amendment Bill and the Sentencing Amendment Bill No 3.

The Crimes Amendment Bill allows police to apply for an interception warrant to investigate participation in an organised criminal group and increases maximum sentences.

The Sentencing Amendment Bill makes gang participation an aggravating factor at sentencing, and the Local Government Amendment Bill enables police and local authorities to seek removal orders against intimidating gang structures.

- NZPA