Police announce a nationwide operation to end violence by criminal gangs and organized crime groups

The New Zealand police have announced a nationwide operation to disrupt and prevent gun violence by criminal gangs and organized crime groups.

Operation Tauwhiro will be carried out in the 12 police districts over the next six months and is the first operation aligned with the new Strategy against Organized Crime.

A key element of this strategy was addressing organized crime, its social drivers, and the harm it caused.

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Gang membership and crime have increased in recent years, particularly in regions like Hawke’s Bay.

At least 900 people joined a gang in 2020, a 13 percent increase from the previous year, according to police figures.

In Hawke’s Bay alone, the birthplace of Mongrel Mob, police recorded a 58 percent increase in registered gang membership during 2019.

Inspector Dean Clifford said the operation would give Hawke’s Bay police an opportunity to disrupt violent offenders and prevent crime and victimization.

“There have been incidents of gun violence in the Eastern District and our staff has been working tirelessly to investigate these incidents and hold those responsible to account,” said Clifford.

“As part of the operation, we will also seek opportunities where appropriate to target social service interventions targeting criminal gangs or gang members, identifying underlying risk factors and implementing appropriate interventions.”

Clifford said the goal of Operation Tauwhiro was to reduce the prevalence of gang violence and organized crime, particularly that involving the use of firearms.

Police Commissioner Andrew Coster said groups that committed violence with firearms could be “the focus of significant police attention.”

A key focus of the operation would be to investigate and disrupt the illegal supply of firearms to gangs and organized crime groups, which was enabling firearm violence.

Coster said each police district will run its own personalized initiative and work closely with iwi and community groups.

The decision was welcomed by the president of the New Zealand Police Association, Chris Cahill, he said.

“We are also aware of a change in attitude in the use of firearms. Not long ago, firearms were prized gang possessions and were more or less for intimidation and threat purposes. “

Cahill said there has been a noticeable shift towards people who are prepared to use illegal firearms with each other.

“The association has been taking note of the number of times stories involving firearms make it into our everyday media, and over the past year it has been at least once, and often more, per day,” said Cahill. .

“This is extremely disconcerting for the Aotearoa communities and, coupled with incidents involving shootings and firearms displays that never make the headlines, but known to the association, the whole picture is disturbing.”