A bill to ban gang patches is being described as a 'knee jerk reaction”.
Bay of Plenty based MP Todd McClay has sponsored the bill which has had its first reading in parliament.
Merivale Community Inc general manager Graham Cameron. Photo: file.
The Murupara, Kawerau and Rotorua MP's private members bill - Prohibition of Gang Insignia in Government Premise Bill - aims to ban gang patches from state-owned enterprises.
Merivale Community Inc general manager Graham Cameron says the ban is a knee jerk reaction to a perceived issue with a small group of society whom most people never see, interact with or have any experience of at all except through the media.
'There is actually no issue to be resolved. People wearing gang patches are not intimidating people regularly throughout Tauranga Moana.
'It is an easy populist issue for Todd McClay and the National –led coalition government. People believe if they were to ever see a gang member they would be intimidated and that would fringe upon them, so we should do something about this terrible hypothetical example.”
Graham believes the ban is a 'ridiculous waste of our representatives' time in Parliament”.
If the bill is passed, people who breached the ban will face a summary conviction and a fine of up to $2000.
Todd says gangs cause harm and misery and people feel intimidated by their presence.
'People feel intimidated by what they stand for and they feel intimidated every time they see them in their WINZ office, in council offices and in schools and hospitals around this country,” Todd told Parliament.
Gangs covered in the bill included the Hells Angels, Mongrel Mob and Killerbeez.
Other gangs that emerged with 'a common name or common identifying symbol” and that 'collectively promote, encourage or engage in criminal activity” could be added to the bill.
Graham says the ban will have no impact on the day to day lives of people who wear gang patches in Tauranga.
'I suspect our police, already stretched in this of budget cuts, are unlikely to devote resources to being glorified hall monitors who follow people with patches around to make sure they are not wearing them in public places.
'If anything, this legislation will increase the mystique and value of a gang patch and reinvigorate our local gangs.”
He says this goes for the Merivale community as well.
There are negative impacts of gang involvement and residence in Merivale, says Graham.
'I know people who have been intimidated and driven from living in a particular area because of their whanau connections to other gangs, because they get on the wrong side of gang members and their whanau, or for no real reason at all.
'It's a really horrible rime when that happens to people and I feel frustrated and angry that relatively innocent people have their lives ruined.”
However, this has nothing to do with gang patches, says Graham.
'It has everything to do with the desperate need to have some power over others when you are in extreme poverty, alcohol and substance abuse leading to conflict and violence and the black economy that functions on bartering, bargaining and a winner takes all system.”
While the bill has not been voted on during its first reading, it will pass its first reading with the support of National, New Zealand First, Act's John Banks and United Future MP Peter Dunne.
Todd says if more people vote for a bill than against, then is will be sent to a committee.
The Committee will then call for public submission on the bill.
The entire process could take months as the details of the bill are worked through, submissions are sorted, submitters have their say and decisions around the legislation are made.
He expects the whole process to take around a year.
8 comments
So what is the solution then
Posted on 24-08-2012 10:24 | By waiknot
What I cant get my head around is how can it be legal for a gang/club (call it what you want) to exist and be publicly flaunted when the initiation requirements of being a member is to commit a crime? My logic says this makes the gang and its members criminals the gangs assets should be forfeited to the state. On the other hand if the gang does not get involved in illegal and threatening activity whether I like them or not is irreverent, they are entitled to live their life and wear their patches the same as any sports team as an example.
HEAD IN THE SAND
Posted on 24-08-2012 11:03 | By shooterm92
No disrepect to Mr Cameron but if he thinks there is no intimidation from gang members then perhaps he needs to take his head out of the sand and have a good look around. Gang members are always intimidating no matter where they are.
Make Patches Compulsory
Posted on 24-08-2012 14:52 | By The Tomahawk Kid
I am all FOR gang patches. If there are individuals of dubious moral standing hanging around amongs the public It is nice to know where they are - and what better than a patch to advertise and warn me of their presence. In fact all you advocates of compulsion should get together and make it COMPULSORY. Of course that would make it compulsory for Labour and National Party gang members to wear their relevant COLOURS or patches also.
BAN PATCHES FOR GOOD
Posted on 24-08-2012 16:35 | By lanello
unfortunately I would have to disagree with Mr Cameron on various reasons. NOT banning gang patches means that we as a country should continue to look at the vulgre looking clothing that people call patches to make them look tough, taking the patch away would mean that they will not think as though they rule the world let alone there little suburbs they live in by intimidation and scaremongering tactics. The patch is inherited by an individual by committing an act of terror towards a hardworking individual, this should not be allowed. When Mr Cameron mentions that these people behind these patches are because they are in poverty or in the low socio-economic group, thats because they chose to be where they are. people should just accept that if there are gangs they need to follows the rules that all of us follow, and if the gang patch was a blanket for those rules then all the ministers voting on this bill is basically taking the blanket of the rules that gangs thought they could cover it up by with there patches. Its about time the gangs get a job that has a real patch of employment on their clothing instead of the patch they currently hold which is only employed by WINZ. BAN PATCHES WITHOUT A DOUBT!!!
I agree partly with Shooterm92
Posted on 24-08-2012 17:04 | By Phailed
The only difference being that I don't think Mr Cameron's head is in the sand. Somewhere else maybe, but not in the sand?
Denial of reality
Posted on 24-08-2012 22:52 | By penguin
Cameron needs to get over himself and face reality. What a weak statement to say that society's adversity gives individuals the right to be in a gang and intimidate others. Everyone has the chance to make choices and one cannot blame others if one makes bad choices. As a senior member of society who knew criminals etc very well, said "even the most hardened criminal knows right from wrong and the choice they make is theirs, no-one else's.” How, then, does Cameron account for the actions of the arsonist involved in the recent fatal house fire in Hamilton? Neighbours of the deceased allege that there were gang connections associated with that incident. Incidentally, doesn't one of the senior Labour MP's ride a motorbike and has red as his party colour- LOL?
Various dog breeds ...
Posted on 25-08-2012 16:51 | By Murray.Guy
Various dog breeds and cross breeds are more intimidating, more prevalant, more frequently dishing out 'life changing', disfiguring attacks - yet we do nothing. As for crime committed against society, it is more of a case of 'head in the sand' if you don't acknowledge the worst criminals likely operate in a white shirt rather than a cloth / leather jacket!
Bright idea's???
Posted on 26-08-2012 23:49 | By jacmay
Have to agree with that person that say's Mr Cameron has his head stuck somewhere other than the sand. Over the years I have noticed that the GM of the community has much to say about the problems of lower income communities,the latest being the gang patches. Would like to hear his suggestion on how the average person should deal with intimidating aggressive attitudes of gang members when in there gears. The patches in my mind encourage them to be more aggressive. At least there is a politician trying to do something about it.
(edited)
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