Tackling Gangs

Knowing more and having the tools to do more are the keys to getting on top of gangs in New Zealand say Police.
The combination of new legislation and better tools within our organisation will ensure we prevail against organised crime says acting Deputy Commissioner Operations, Steve Shortland.
"Better intelligence means we know more, better legislation means we can do more."
"Our aim is to dismantle these groups and destroy their asset base."

"The most effective way of getting to gangs is to know as much about them as possible and then use that information to target and apprehend their ring leaders.

"We are now operating a new and better system of gathering information on gangs. The most significant of these is the National Intelligence Centre which collates information from all Police districts and co-ordinates it in ways that allow us to target organised crime nationally rather than district by district."

The newly established Organised and Financial Crime Agency of New Zealand (OFCANZ) is solely dedicated to the disruption and dismantling of organised criminal networks in New Zealand. It is using improved intelligence from Police, and collaborating with other Government agencies to run nationally co-ordinated operations to target gangs.

The NZ Police Electronic Crime Lab provides world-leading technology to Police so that we can retrieve electronic information. Eve - the Environment for Virtualised Evidence rolled out nationally this year. EVE gives all police swifter access to the evidential material on seized electronic devices. All organised crime uses some form of technology to run their businesses.

Police will use new legislation to its fullest extent to target gangs where it will hurt them most.

"Powers to seize illegally gained assets and profit on the balance of probabilities will be a powerful tool for Police.

"Convictions punish the individual, but divesting them of their wealth will destroy their power base.

"Recently announced plans to control access to domestic pseudo-ephedrine and step up our border control will cut off access to precursors for methamphetamine manufacture."

"We are very much of the view that New Zealand will soon be a far less desirable place for gangs to do business." Mr Shortland said.

ENDS

Please view the full news release online at:

http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/21291.html

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