Three minutes after midnight, police make arrest under new gang patch law – but the boot camp news is disappointing
The good news on the law-and-order front today came from an ebullient Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Police had made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell.
Just before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He had been arrested and would face “enforcement action”.
At around the same time, a patched Mongrel Mob member was observed by Police standing in the street in Papakura. He was also arrested, and will also face enforcement action.
“This is in addition to the first seizure just three minutes after the legislation took effect in Hastings, with Police seizing a Mongrel Mob insignia displayed on a car dashboard.”
The news from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour was more disappointing.
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the government’s boot camp pilot – sorry, its “Military-Style Academy Pilot” – has allegedly reoffended.
The pilot concluded its three-month residential phase on October 16. The nine-month community phase finishes in July 2025.
Chhour said was saddened that this young person had not taken the opportunity at a second chance.
But it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend, she said.
And, fair to say, she has never promised 100 per cent success while championing the policy.
On March 5, she said that as part of the 100-day plan, the government was delivering on its promise to create “Young Offender Military Academies”.
Proposals included the creation of a new Young Serious Offender designation.
The intention was for a pilot for a military-style academy to be operating from the middle of this year. It would have a military-style component as well as “a rehabilitative and trauma-informed care approach to help these young people turn their lives around and reduce their risk of reoffending”.
In July she announced the Government had launched the Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North,
Ten young people were to begin their time on the pilot.
The focus would be on
“This is in addition to the first seizure just three minutes after the legislation took effect in Hastings, with Police seizing a Mongrel Mob insignia displayed on a car dashboard.”
The news from Children’s Minister Karen Chhour was more disappointing.
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the government’s boot camp pilot – sorry, its “Military-Style Academy Pilot” – has allegedly reoffended.
The pilot concluded its three-month residential phase on October 16. The nine-month community phase finishes in July 2025.
Chhour said was saddened that this young person had not taken the opportunity at a second chance.
But it would be naïve to think that none of these young men would reoffend, she said.
And, fair to say, she has never promised 100 per cent success while championing the policy.
On March 5, she said that as part of the 100-day plan, the government was delivering on its promise to create “Young Offender Military Academies”.
Proposals included the creation of a new Young Serious Offender designation.
The intention was for a pilot for a military-style academy to be operating from the middle of this year. It would have a military-style component as well as “a rehabilitative and trauma-informed care approach to help these young people turn their lives around and reduce their risk of reoffending”.
In July she announced the Government had launched the Pilot at Te Au rere a te Tonga Youth Justice residence in Palmerston North,
Ten young people were to begin their time on the pilot.
The focus would be on
- Structure and routine
- Addressing criminal behaviours
- Physical activities
- Education and vocational training
- Preparation for work and finding employment
- Specific rehabilitative, therapeutic and cultural components required for each young person.
“Following the residential component, the nine-month stage of the programme will be focused on supporting the young person to transition back into the community. Whānau will be engaged where possible for the full 12 months of the programme.”
The key difference from what had been done before in these types of programmes was that most of the time would be spent focusing on transition back to the community, making sure the young people were well set up for the future including a pathway into education, training or employment and working with the families of the young people.
The announcements from Mitchell and Chhour have been posted along with the latest bunch of ministerial pronouncements on the government’s official website.
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In his statement, Mark Mitchell boasted:
“While compliance with the legislation is high, this is still early days and Police stand ready to enforce the law.”
Early days, indeed.
The Gangs Act 2024 came into force at midnight.
Just a few hours later, Police were saying a Mongrel Mob member faced prosecution under the new laws.
Police commissioner Richard Chambers told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking:
”Three minutes past midnight my staff stopped a vehicle displaying gang insignia and they are now facing prosecution.”.
Opposition MPs have raised concerns about safety, potential misuse of police powers, and rights issues under the gang law.
They are staunchly opposed, also, to the government’s “boot camp” programme.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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