Treating Gangs Like Terrorists Has Some Merit

“Treating Gangs like Terrorists has some Merit” said Kim Workman, Director of Rethinking Crime and Punishment, told the Police Leadership Conference yesterday.

In a wide ranging address on the history of Maori engagement with police over the last sixty years, he referred to South Australia’s Premier Mike Rann mantra “ Gang members are terrorists – treat them like terrorists” .

“The proposition of developing strategies to deal with gangs, as though they were terrorists, has some merit. Dr Pete Lentini of Monash Uhniversity, an international expert on terrorism, has identified successful strategies for for reducing terrorism.

If the same points were used to combat gang growth, they would assist the Police and politicians to combat and reduce gang activity. He makes the following points:

1. Above all, develop a rational, long term strategy. 2. Avoid the temptation to politicize the gang issue, and to offer ‘silver bullet’ solutions through piecemeal legislation 3. Don’t deal with public fear, by promoting public fear – take a rational long term approach to the issue 4. Seek to understand issues of causation - and address them. 5. Understand that while some gang members are dangerous criminals, not all members of gang families are criminals, or condone criminal behaviour.

Kim Workman urged the Police to look to the international research, and to adopt strategies that have worked elsewhere.

“In New Zealand, the public opinion falls into two camps. The first camp believes in elimination of gangs through enforcement, the second in ensuring public safety through gang and community engagement.

“Comparing the approach taken in Los Angeles with that in New York, will give you an idea of what works.”

“Over the last twenty five years Los Angeles have adopted a heavy emphasis on gang elimination through law enforcement. New York, on the other hand has taken a public safety and preventive approach by promoting jobs, education and encouraged youth to draw away from gang activity. Both cities adopted their strategies over twenty five years ago.”

“Los Angeles taxpayers have not seen a return on their massive investments over the past quarter century. There are now six times as many gangs and at least double the number of gang members in the region. The elimination through enforcement policy, has failed, and spending on gang enforcement has far outpaced spending on prevention programs or on improved conditions in communities where gang violence takes a heavy toll.”

“On the other hand, New York used extensive social resources -- job training, mentoring, after-school activities, recreational programs – and made significant dents in gang violence. A variety of street work and intervention programs "outside the realm of law enforcement" were adopted and caused gang violence to decrease by the end of the 1980s.”

“The comparison is stark. Three years ago, Los Angeles police reported 11,402 gang-related crimes. The New York police reported 520 gang related crimes. Independent research elsewhere shows clearly that heavy-handed suppression efforts can increase gang cohesion and police-community tensions.”

“As a nation, we can no longer afford the luxury of implementing crime prevention measures that are costly, and guaranteed to fail. As public servants, you have a duty to function not on the basis of political whim, but on evidence based strategies which promote community peace.”

“You are Ambassadors of Peace, and if you are looking for a leadership model, I would recommend that you consider that of Moshe Dayan, the Commander in Chief of the Israeli Defence Force, turned politician and peacemaker. He once said, “If you want to make peace, don’t talk to your friends. Talk to your enemies.”

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