New Zealand Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has revealed plans to establish national and frontline gang-focused units to combat gang offending and intimidation.
“Gang members commit a disproportionate amount of crime and harm in New Zealand, and particularly in the areas of serious assault, robberies, drug and firearms offences, and homicides,” Coster said.
“Police has been working hard to combat the impact of gangs and organised crime groups in recent times, through targeted national and district operations, organised crime investigations, Offender Prevention Teams, and many other responses,” Coster added. “A new National Gang Unit is to be established to enable the continuation of this work and build our operational capability further.
The Unit will work with Police districts across the country, drawing on the successes of Operation Cobalt and other coordinated responses to gang funerals and other gang activity.
“The National Gang Unit will support district-based staff to plan and coordinate enforcement, resources and Police responses, in a determined effort to continue applying pressure on gangs to disrupt and prevent gang-related crime, disorder, and intimidation,” Coster said. “Incoming legislation will provide Police with new tools to respond to the harm caused by gangs, and help ensure communities feel safe.”