Media Release from Dick Quax

Monday, 12 March 2007

Len Brown must answer questions about gang headquarters

The revelation in the Herald on Sunday that a Manukau City Council hall was being used the headquarters of a violent youth gang in Otara leaves the chairman of a government funded Otara youth action group and mayoral aspirant, Len Brown facing some embarrassing questions.

The Killer Bees a gang well known for its criminal activity and its use of violence have occupied the Sandbrooke Reserve hall for about 3 years.

Otara 274, the first three digits of the Otara area phone number, receives $800,000 of government funding to counter gang activity in Otara.

Len Brown was praised by the prime minister for his work in with youth in Otara in September last year. Yet all the while the gangs in Otara have never been more active and have never acted more openly in that community.

"Mr Brown needs to front up and explain why it is that this kind of gang recruitment was going on right under his nose and he failed to notice it or chose to ignore it".

"Len is well known for his pro criminal ideology but if he wants to be mayor of Manukau he needs to front up and show some leadership around the matter of community safety - an area identified by people right across Manukau a matter of great concern".

"At the last mayoral election Mr Brown accused me of wanting to be the minister of police. I don't, but the people of Manukau know I won't tolerate criminal gangs taking over our streets".

ENDS

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