Police Commissioner and Police Minister reveal specialised gang task force to target organised crime

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has announced a National Gang Unit to crack down on gang crime and gangs’ anti-social behaviour.

Coster, speaking to media today, said police know gang members commit a large amount of the crime in New Zealand - 8 per cent of all violence and 18 per cent of serious violence.

The National Gang Unit would be a dedicated, specialised gang unit of 25-30 people with ring-fenced staff of up to seven staff in every police district across the country.

Coster said this action will be a continuation of Operation Cobalt.

Incoming legislation will provide new tools for police to deal with gangs.

“At a time in the world when safety and feeling safe is an evolving picture in many countries, New Zealand is still one of the safest countries to live. But the gang landscape is changing, and Police will continue to adapt to meet these challenges head-on.

“Policing gangs and serious offenders is an all-of-Police priority. The new gang units will boost our focus and capability, but they are not working alone – our whole frontline is involved in preventing the crime and harm caused by methamphetamine, organised crime, and gangs, whether through road policing, organised crime investigations, prosecutions, or prevention activity,” Coster said.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell said the National Gang Unit was part of the government’s plan to put public safety first.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Police Comissioner Andrew Coster press coference on gangs at the Auckland Police Headquarters in Central Auckland. Photo / Ben Dickens

Gangs will receive disruption notices and dispersal notices to prevent them wearing patches and gathering - in a similar method to Australia.

The new measures also follow on from Operation Cobalt, which has been running for several years, but with most success in Auckland where a dedicated team of officers has been in place.

National wants members to leave gangs, Mitchell said, and gang members need to realise they’re not above the law.

Coster said the new unit will be stood up through reprioritisation as well as new budget.

“There is always opportunity to reprioritise,” Coster said.

He said some police work can be taken by other agencies.

He used mental health callouts as an example.

Mitchell said police in the National Gang Unit would have warrantless search powers.

Coster said police have discretion on how to undertake the gang patch ban and the visible presence of gangs leads to members of the public feeling fearful.

The National Gang Unit will be stood up by July 1.

The announcement follows a concerning rise in gang violence, including the fatal shooting of a man last weekend on Ponsonby Rd by a Killer Beez gang member.

The influx of so-called 501 deportees from Australia has seen a surge of new gangs establishing here like the Comancheros, who have deep links with the illicit the drug trade and a propensity for violence.

Patched members of the Comanchero gang pictured with gold-plated motorcycles after establishing a New Zealand chapter. Photo / Instagram

The venue of today’s announcement is the same as where the Government spoke of introducing legislation to ban all gang insignia in public places and create greater powers to stop criminal gangs from gathering in groups and communicating.

That announcement was made on February 24 by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell.

Goldsmith said under the new law to crack down on gangs, police will be able to issue dispersal notices requiring gang members to immediately leave the area and not associate with one another for seven days.

Courts will be able to issue non-consorting orders, which will stop specified gang offenders from associating or communicating with one another for up to three years.

“The law will also be changed to give greater weight to gang membership as an aggravating factor at sentencing, enabling courts to impose more severe punishments,” Goldsmith said.

The Government has already announced its work to ban gang patches in public, now the crackdown is set to grow further. Photo / NZME

Under the legislation, wearing a gang patch in public would come with a penalty of a fine of up to $5000 or up to six months in prison.

Goldsmith said over the last five years gangs had recruited more than 3000 members, a 51 per cent increase. At the same time, there had been a significant escalation in gang-related violence, public intimidation and shootings, with violent crime up 33 per cent.

“We need to take action and reduce gangs’ ability to engage in criminal behaviour and prevent them from further endangering and intimidating Kiwis.

“That is why, as part of National and Act’s coalition agreement, the Government will introduce legislation to ban all gang insignia in public places, and create greater powers to stop criminal gangs from gathering in groups and communicating.”

Mitchell said New Zealanders deserve to feel safe in their homes, communities and public places.

A gang convoy takes to Auckland streets ahead of the funeral for Ponsonby Rd gunman Hone Kay-Selwyn. Photo / Dean Purcell

“For too long gangs have been allowed to behave as if they are above the law. There is no tolerance for this behaviour and these new laws will support police to take action against it.”

Mitchell said the ban on gang patches would apply to funerals/tangi and although funeral services were always emotional events, that didn’t give gang members the right to disrupt and take over public places.

At the time, Mitchell said Coster was 100 per cent on board with the legislation and highly motivated to put it into force.