South Australia laws turn up heat on gangs

New laws announced in South Australia to outlaw criminal motorcycle gangs are not a quick fix, but they show a real determination to tackle organised crime, Police Association President Greg O’Connor said today.

“Getting on top of gangs requires a sustained attack on all levels of their activity. There’s no quick fix solution, but the new South Australian laws show a political understanding of the problem and a determination to tackle it,” Mr O’Connor said.

“In New Zealand, we’ve done far too little for far too long. Gangs are the single biggest threat to the New Zealand way of life, but it’s only now that ‘P’ is expanding the sphere of gang intimidation out beyond the good people who live in the poorer parts of town, that we’re starting to see some real action.”

“The new Organised Crime Agency will be a good start. New laws to target proceeds of crime are well overdue. But even when these are in place, it is critical that we keep looking for new ways to keep the pressure on.”

“We’ll be keeping a close eye on the effectiveness of the South Australia laws.”

“Organised criminal gangs are always adapting and finding new ways to make money through crime, violence, intimidation. Today, it’s the Asian syndicates pushing methamphetamine out through motorcycle and ethnic gang distributors. Tomorrow’s big menace is likely to be the new breed of ultra-violent street gangs. Organised crime is a moving target, and we need to be constantly looking at our own methods if we want to get on top of the problem,” Mr O’Connor said.