“Tricky’s plan to re-brand the Mongrel Mob has the potential to detract from the current initiatives with gang communities that are producing significant results”, says Kim Workman, Director of Rethinking Crime and Punishment. “The sole benefit from Tricky’s scheme may be the extra door sales he gets from the publicity”. He was commenting on hip-hop artist Tricky’s proposal to market the Mongrel Mob logo as a positive brand, for kids who wanted something ‘edgy’.

“New Zealand is a Mecca for celebrities who drop in, make public pronouncements about how to address offending behaviour, get lots of media publicity, and then leave with their pockets full of cash. When I was Head of Prisons I recall BB King’s New Zealand promoter publicising BB’s charity work in the US prisons, and how that would not be encouraged in New Zealand. When I offered him the opportunity for BB King to perform in New Zealand prisons, he wanted to be paid.”

Already, the public discussion on this scheme and comments from criminologists, has tended to de-value the excellent work currently being done within the gang communities by transformed gang leaders, by people like Sam Chapman and Denis O’Reilly , and groups such as Wesley Community Action and the Salvation Army.

“The standout feature of working effectively with gang communities is firstly a commitment to working over many years to establish relationships and trust – it is a lifetime commitment. The second characteristic is to listen carefully to what people are saying. Pat Manuel probably has those connections. Before there is any further publicity, Tricky and his associates need to talk to a whole lot of people. If the idea has value, they will tell him. Secondly, there needs to be a long term commitment by Tricky and his associates to work with gang communities.”

ENDS

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