KEY POINTS:
Police estimate there are between 3000 and 3500 patched gang members and associates in New Zealand, Police Minister Annette King told Parliament yesterday.
She said accuracy was difficult because people were dishonest with the police about gang membership.
New Zealand First MP Ron Mark asked if it was an appropriate to have fewer than 200 officers dedicated to dealing with "a group of criminals the size of the population of Napier who are responsible for almost all of the $1.5 billion methamphetamine trade".
Ms King said police dealing with gangs were supported by many others.
She introduced a bill to Parliament yesterday that will increase sentences for criminal gang membership and make participation an aggravating factor at sentencing.
The National Party has said it will support the Organised Crime (Penalties and Sentencing) Bill.
It doubles the maximum penalty for participation in an organised criminal group to 10 years' jail.
The Government went on the offensive yesterday, and Corrections Minister Phil Goff cited statistics in a bid to show it had toughened laws to deal with crime, including:
* The minimum non-parole period for aggravated murder is 17 years, up from 10 years.
* Sentences served for sexual violation are 40 per cent longer than before the Sentencing Act 2002.
* The average sentence served for burglary has increased from 44 per cent of sentence to 70 per cent.
* The average sentence served for serious assaults has increased from 54 per cent of the sentence to 70 per cent.
* The percentage of applications declined by the Parole Board since the Parole Act 2002 has gone up from just over 50 per cent to 70 per cent.
- NZ HERALD STAFF, NZPA
