Gang numbers in New Zealand a serious problem

Being soft on gangs has never worked and the 50 per cent increase in gang members under the Labour Government is evidence of that. While Government ministers visit gang pads and host gang members in the Beehive, the number of gang members in New Zealand is rising to record heights. I have grave concerns that soon the more than 8000 gang members will eclipse the roughly 10,000 police officers we have maintaining law and order.

No matter how much Jacinda Ardern and her Ministers want us to believe that gang members are just misunderstood, they cannot hide from the fact that violent crime has increased as gang numbers have.

The situation is not helped by the determination with which Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis is approaching his pledge to reduce inmate numbers in prisons. In fact, it is just about the only promise Labour has delivered on in the law-and-order space. However, he has not done this by rehabilitating inmates. Rather, he has simply let criminals out early.

The soft touch of Labour on harden criminals and organised crime is creating a situation where these gangs are emboldened and free to operate without consequences. Recently, a gang caused Hawke’s Bay roads to effectively shut down as they drove their motorbikes and cars down both sides of the road on their way to a funeral for a senior gang member. The funeral was then held at a primary school which had to shut down for two days, therefore. I publicly stated that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable, but the Government did not seem to agree.

New Zealanders have the right to feel safe in our own country and in our communities. Those of us who grew up here do not want to see the freedom we had in childhood disappear for future generations. Likewise, those of us who have chosen to make New Zealand our home often did so because of how safe it is. It is important that we do everything we can to protect this way of life.

In the recent Budget announced by Finance Minister Grant Robertson, I was astounded to find a $90 million cut to police spending. Now is not the time to be carving resources from our law enforcement agency. The Government have not even recruited all the police officers they promised and the 700 police officers that were to be assigned to organised crime has turned out to be fewer than 300.

National is the party of law and order. We know how important personal security and community safety are to all New Zealanders. We take a zero-tolerance approach to gangs and simply would not sit by while gangs recruit at an exceptional rate like this Government seems to be doing.

Small business owners should not have to fear the kind of violence gangs perpetrate. They should not feel that they need to arm themselves. Kiwis should be able to walk through their community, visit the local park with their children, and enjoy the night life without being intimidated by patched gang members.

I will continue to hold this Government to account and urge them to take organised crime seriously. You will not see me backing down off issues that so fundamental to our way of life. I am not afraid to say the things the Government should be saying. Gangs do not want a National Government and that says it all.

-Simeon Brown, National MP for Pakuranga, Auckland.