Denis O'Reilly: Community Advocate and Black Power member on the gang patch ban, cartels

A lifetime Black Power member is warning of a larger threat on the anniversary of the gang patch ban.  

Today marks one year since the law was changed to give Police increased powers to go after gangs, including banning gang insignia in public.  

Since then, officers have seized 182 patches, more than 600 insignia items, and 178 firearms. 

But Community Advocate Denis O'Reilly told Ryan Bridge international cartels are becoming increasingly involved in gang activity.  

He says they will recruit young gang members with promises of wealth and riches.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So game patch ban, we're one year on, six hundred
and forty three items seized, eight hundred and fifty six charges,
one hundred and eighty eight convictions, thirty eight thousand fewer
victims of serious violent crime. Dennis o'reiley's lifetime Black Power
member and community advocate, with me this morning, Dennis, Good morning.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
Good morning, sir.

Speaker 1 (00:16):
Has it been a success.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Well, I think a reduction in the number of victims
is a good thing. Firearms up the street is a
good thing. And not too sure about the seige of clothing.
You can get stuff on Temu if you want. It's
behavior that counts. But no, this ban has been the
patch ban has been well implemented. Paradoxically, it's by the

(00:39):
very same leadership team that's been vilified very much. You know,
mister Basham was the guy that stared that, and I
suppose it's under the direction of mister Costa and Tania Kurra.
So it must seem like a I know, it's the
fagship policy for the government, and it must seem a
bit like a bit of a turd sam which but yes,

(01:02):
it has worked.

Speaker 1 (01:03):
You take the sandwich and just leave the turd on
the side. How about the what's on the ground, like
gang members, what is their life like without a patch on?
Does it do they Does it change dynamics?

Speaker 2 (01:16):
Well, in the main, I think most people are quite
happy about it, not annoying the public and not annoying
each other as much. Now there's a bit of betwixt
and between, and I was really hoping that we'd be
able to put a lot more effort into Remember this
is not only the sort of anniversary of the Patch band,

(01:40):
it's also the anniversary of the apology by the government
for abuse and state care. And when we talk about
gangs in New Zealand, we sort of think about Rory
and Hemy lurking down at them all. But we've got
real gangs now, we've got cartels bringing in mesymphetamine and

(02:01):
unprecedented quantities into the country. Yes, and we need to.

Speaker 1 (02:05):
Sort of telling about what are What have you been
telling the members that you speak to about the Mexicans.

Speaker 2 (02:13):
Well, not just the Mexicans. Well, I'm saying that they
will recruit the sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters
of the current gang Faro. They'll promise them the world
through North American hyper materialism, but the only way they'll

(02:34):
get to enjoy it is from six feet.

Speaker 1 (02:35):
Under Dennis o'reiley, former Black Power Member, in fact, lifetime
Black Power Member, community advocate.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
For more from earlier edition with Ryan Bridge, Listen live
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