KEY POINTS:
The Government came under attack over its record on gang-busting laws in Parliament yesterday, as National and NZ First both questioned why more had not been done.
National law and order spokesman Simon Power asked why Labour had not done more on its election promise of an organised crime strategy, for which the most recent report was in 2005.
NZ First's Ron Mark, who believes gangs should be included under anti-terrorism legislation as domestic terrorists, also hit out, asking why the Government had not given police enough tools to clamp down on gangs.
He cited Police Association president Greg O'Connor's comments in the Herald that "the [Police] Commissioner now is saying it is all right. Well, it's bullshit. It is out of control."
Minister of Justice Mark Burton said he was expecting a report this week from senior officials across several government departments on existing provisions and possible new steps.
"If there are further measures that can be taken to further strengthen the tool kit for police, we will do it."
He said the Government had already made significant changes to laws, including longer sentences for serious crimes and bail and parole reforms.
He also mentioned the Proceeds of Crime Bill, which would strip gangs of their wealth base, but which Mr Power said was yet to be enacted eight years after it was promised.
Mr Burton refused to say if Labour would support a bill by Chester Borrows, National MP for Whanganui, banning gang insignia on clothing in central Wanganui until the bill had been drafted.
However, Prime Minister Helen Clark said earlier in the day she believed banning insignia would be problematic.
She said gang members now tended to tattoo insignia on to their skin, making it difficult to enforce.
She has also said it was futile to ban gangs, because it would drive them underground and increase their appeal.
National Party leader John Key also said it would be too simplistic to ban gangs, but the Government needed to take stronger steps.
"Labour made some other changes, but they have been modest at best. Even the Proceeds of Crime Bill has taken a long time."
He said Borrows' bill was a step in the right direction. "But it's not a panacea to all problems."
Helen Clark also criticised Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia, who told Radio New Zealand not all gang members were criminals.
"Gangs are criminal organisations," said Helen Clark. "That's what distinguishes them from other normal legal organisations.
"Gangs cause a tremendous amount of misery in the community and I don't think it's appropriate for anybody to be making excuses for them."
