ACT Leader Richard Prebble says a current affairs programme which broadcast Mongrel Mob threats against an Invercargill family shows things which are seriously wrong in New Zealand.

Last night TV1's 60 Minutes programme told the story of an Invercargill family who'd left town and sold their house at a loss following a campaign of terror by their neighbourhood Mongrel Mob. After giving evidence which resulted in a six-year jail sentence for the gang leader, the family was subjected to threats on their life.

Mr Prebble said today he is concerned that the gang leader will not in fact serve six years. "If he behaves in jail, he'll be out in two years. Even if he doesn't behave - if, for example he is implicated in threats being made against the Lawtons' lives - he will still be out in 4 years. This is not an acceptable length of imprisonment for someone who is responsible for arson and threats of rape and death," Mr Prebble said.

Mr Prebble said he was greatly concerned that the Lawton family was now on the run and living in terror from threats made against them by the Mob. He is writing to the Prime Minister to ask if her government considers it acceptable that law abiding citizens can be devastated by criminals in this way.

He said it was also unacceptable that state funded television should broadcast threats by gang members against law-abiding citizens.

ENDS

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