Labour’s approach to law and order is appalling
It’s become clear that the Government doesn’t see the seriousness of New Zealand’s gang problem.
Since Labour has been in office there has been an almost 50 per cent increase in the number of gang members in our communities. We’ve seen Government Ministers sitting down and having cups of tea with gang leaders.
An increase in gang members means an increase in crime, it’s as simple as that. There are now 8000 gang members peddling drugs, violence and misery throughout New Zealand. It’s putting the safety of our children at risk
I hear from parents across New Zealand who are concerned about letting their child walk to school, or worried they might be sucked into a gang.
On a weekly basis we are learning of increased gang-related gun crime, shootings and escalating addiction to drugs, particularly in our provinces.
That’s not the type of New Zealand I want to see.
So what is Labour doing about this?
It’s not cracking down on the gangs as you would expect, instead it’s giving handouts to the Mongrel Mob.
The Government has given the Mongrel Mob $2.75 million out of the Proceeds of Crime Fund to run a drug rehabilitation programme for those addicted to meth.
It’s difficult to see any logic in this move.
The Mongrel Mob is an organised criminal organisation which has been caught selling meth, uses illegal firearms and perpetrates significant violence on our streets.
Almost any other organisation would be more appropriate to fund than a drug-peddling gang.
The Proceeds of Crime Fund was set up to support victims of crime and to fund initiatives which would address the social harm caused by gangs. It wasn’t meant to be a way to fund the gangs.
It’s no wonder the gangs feel emboldened under Labour when it’s handing over millions of dollars to them.
Even the police are outraged, funding an organised criminal group such as the Mongrel Mob is directly opposed to the work they are doing trying to combat organised crime and its grip on society.
Some have aptly labelling the funding a successful money laundering scheme since the Notorious chapter of the Mongrel Move recently had $2 million seized off them.
Labour has handed it back with interest.
There are many organisations, like the Salvation Army, who need support urgently to stem drug harm in their communities who have been left wanting as the Mob grows richer.
National has written to the Auditor-General requesting an investigation into this payment, and the Chief Human Rights Commissioner’s $200 donation to the Waikato Mongrel Mob.
Given the seriousness of organised crime in New Zealand we’ve asked the Auditor-General to investigate both of these issues because we don’t want to see taxpayer money being used to fund criminal behaviour.
If we want to get Kiwis off drugs we should be funding organisations like the Salvation Army who has a proven track record with working with gang members to help them get off meth. Not the Mongrel Mob who has a proven track record of peddling drugs, misery and violence. - Simeon Brown, National MP for Pakuranga, Auckland.
