National labels police budget reduction atrocious , Labour fires back rnz.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rnz.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
ROBERT KITCHIN/STUFF
Minister of Police Poto Williams and Justice Minister Kris Faafoi announce new laws to ban “high risk people from owning or being near firearms.
National Party leader Judith Collins insists there is no systemic racism within police, as she pushes the Government to add “teeth” to an organised crime crackdown that may “unduly impact” Māori. Talk of racism within the police arose on Tuesday after the Government announced a crackdown on organised crime, promising new laws to create Firearm Prevention Orders which will ban serious criminals from owning or being near guns, and bolstered police powers to seize the assets of gang members.
The new Mt Roskill police station.
Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
The build was part of a modernisation programme for police properties.
Police Commissioner Andrew Coster and Police Minister Poto Williams cut the ribbon at the official ceremony this morning.
The new base opened after more than two years of planning, is fitted out with new features to provide better access for the public, and can house nearly 100 staff.
It comes after several stations across New Zealand were merged or closed in recent years.
Coster said the new station highlighted the police commitment to carry out duties in more fit-for-purpose workplaces.
Steve Braunias: The secret diary of gangs
16 Apr, 2021 05:00 PM
3 minutes to read
The Head Hunters and the Mongols are embracing a season of gunshots.
OPINION:
MONDAY
The Mongols: O autumn! O season of falling leaves and the lightness of being. People stereotype deported 501s from Australia as hardened criminals without any appreciation of beauty but the Mongols are sensitive to criticism. In fact, no gang is more f en sensitive than the Mongols.
The Head Hunters: Autumn is with us, heralding a melancholy season of such sweet sorrows and tender longings. People think of violent gangs who trade in methamphetamine as devoid of fine feelings but the Head Hunters stand up for fine feelings. In fact, no gang has finer f en feelings than the Head Hunters.
The government’s recently proposed changes to New Zealand’s counter-terrorism legislation are focusing attention on how best to equip law enforcement agencies with the tools to prevent the kind of atrocity witnessed in Christchurch on March 15, 2019.
However, by broadening the definition of a terrorist act to one intended to induce “fear” rather than “terror” in a population, there is a risk the new law may go too far.
Fear is highly subjective and the legislation seems to leave it open to interpretation. A patched gang member, for example, can induce fear at their local supermarket but it’s arguable whether this qualifies as terrorism.