gangs Archive

  • frog

    The freedom to sing - by frog



    There are gangs other than the type we fuss about here in New Zealand.  Such as for instance the Mafia. The Mafia does not stereotypically wear patches so they are harder to use as an easy target for the type of ‘tough on law and order‘ talk Chester Burrows, Michael Laws and Phil Goff enjoy. [...] read more
    September 15, 2008 1:28 pm - 2 Comments
  • frog

    Better dressed gangs - by frog



    It looks like, with an election campaign now officially underway, the government is more open to copying South Australia and considering banning gangs.  There are fairly limited details about which gangs it might choose ban although the implication is that they are the browner variety with patches, rather than the whiter ones that sail yachts.  [...] read more
    September 15, 2008 9:24 am - 56 Comments
  • frog

    Radio Live’s humble pie - by frog



    I wonder if Michael Laws has been applying the same intellectual rigour and research to his Wanganui District Council (Prohibition of Gang Insignia) Bill as he has to his comments on the Children’s Commissioner? Mr Laws claimed that Dr Kiro only ever gets involved in white abuse cases, and criticised her for not being involved [...] read more
    August 5, 2008 11:13 am - 18 Comments
  • frog

    “Good police officers are going to get hurt” - by frog



    A good shorthand way to tell if Parliament is voting to remove people’s civil liberties is to look for those bills that the Greens, Act and the Maori Party oppose but Labour, National, United Future and New Zealand First support.  Such is the case with Chester Burrows’ Wanganui District Council (Prohibition of Gang Insignia) Bill. [...] read more
    July 31, 2008 9:34 am - 205 Comments
  • frog

    Fighting fires privately - by frog



    Finally we’ve got a policy from National*.  Pansy Wong categorically confirms that National does not support the use of privately hired gangs to stop crime. The debate about privatised vigilante gangs being paid by small business owners reminds me a little of the original concept of the fire brigade in the US and Britain before [...] read more
    July 7, 2008 9:11 am - 22 Comments
  • frog

    I’m safe now that I’ve got me a vigilante criminal to protect me - by frog



    Now I’ve got to suspect that Auckland businessman, Peter Low’s “vigilante group of up to 300 members training in martial arts to protect their community against street thugs” may be somewhat more prosaic, and less nunchuck wielding, than the Sunday Star Times is hoping for.  Nevertheless, Mr Low certainly got people excited with his vigilante [...] read more
    July 6, 2008 3:54 pm - 23 Comments