The government plans to announce new laws targeting gangs after a spate of shootings in Auckland that shot at innocent residents†
New Police Minister Chris Hipkins and Justice Secretary Kiri Allan will make the announcement Wednesday morning in the Auckland suburb of Ōtāhuhu, after meeting with police personnel at Operation Cobalt†
Cobalt is the new national action of the police to fight gangs, with success Sustainable operationwhich targeted gangs and saw their guns and 1,800 guns taken off the streets, Hipkins said.
Few details have been made public about what Cobalt actually entails.
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† House shot at in Flat Bush in Auckland on Friday night
† Motorcycles seized after investigation into gang funeral for man shot by police
† Simple lies make convicted criminals break the rules and work as guards
According to the New Zealand Herald, Hipkins and Allan are expected to announce two new reforms within the package: one to tighten the law on drive-by shootings and a second to strengthen police powers and asset seizure rules.
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The tribesmen were involved in a shooting in Auckland. (File photo)
Firing a gun is currently only considered an “imminent act” if you fire a gun “into a dwelling”.
By driving past someone’s house and shooting at it with the intent to intimidate them, no one would be charged with an “imminent act,” the Herald said.
The paper also reported that changes would be made to police powers around search powers and asset seizure laws.
The police can seize the proceeds of crime after a change in 2009 who has seen more than one billion dollars seized by police†
ROBERT KITCHEN/Things
New police secretary Chris Hipkins will announce a change in the law on Wednesday morning.
The police now regularly grabs cars† motorcycles and money from gangs†
Firearms crimes, more than just shootings, committed by gang members have increased since 2017 and the government has come under increasing political pressure to respond to the situation.
A tit-for-tat shooting between the Killer Beez and Tribesmen MC in Auckland saw a spate of drive-by shootings in South and West Auckland†
Animosity between the groups arose from a 2019 Shooting of Killer Beez Leader Josh Masters which left him paralyzed.
It saw the demise of former police secretary Poto Williams, who… Ardern said he lost focus in the role†