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Dunne tells Goff: Harden up on gangs

Dunne tells Goff: Harden up on gangs

Justice Minister Phil Goff's protection of the rights of gang members might warm the hearts of civil libertarians, but it is part of the reason that gangs have the hold on crime in New Zealand that they have, United Future leader Peter Dunne said today.

Speaking after Mr Goff dismissed hard line models of dealing with criminals' assets in favour of "touching up the abysmally ineffective Proceeds of Crime Act", Mr Dunne said it was time the Government showed a real commitment to dealing with gangs.

"These are criminal organisations. They have stepped outside the bounds of society and choose to exist there. In so doing, they forfeit the rights, the considerations and the privileges that law-abiding citizens have.

"Gangs are, by police estimates, the source of some 90 percent of the pure methamphetamine on New Zealand streets, and yet we have politicians standing up and saying 'let's protect their rights'?" Mr Dunne said.

"It's time to get tough on gangs. It's time that various political parties realised that these criminals are preying on our society and tweaking failed laws is no response at all."

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