Francesca Rudkin: Giving police more resources to tackle gangs is surely the right call

A surge in gang violence has Auckland on edge at the moment as a tit-for-tat gang war between two rival gangs plays out on the street.
The Minister of Police, Poto Williams said she wants the Police to work faster to tackle this particular issue. The Police have responded by saying they're making arrests, mostly on firearms charges and working behind the scenes to de-escalate the situation.
And yet still communities fear for their safety. The Government recently announced a $562 million investment into Police and $94 million to target gangs and organised crime. Obviously more resources are key to tackling the gang problem, but is it enough?
National Party spokesperson Mark Mitchell has suggested tough anti-biker laws introduced in Australia should be considered here. In 2013, Queensland instigated some laws which meant that it was against the law for three or more known criminals to meet in public. They went a bit further than that as well.
If you associate with non-criminals, even text them, you're given a warning and if you breach that warning you were then regarded as a known criminal and can be monitored.
Giving police more resources and the power to investigate and supervise gang activity and those associated with them is surely a step in the right direction.

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