Word: ganges
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...Jhia's killing has reignited debate in New Zealand about whether enough has been done to deal with gangs. The government announced a review of existing laws, while justice officials have been put to work on an organized anti-gang strategy. The New Zealand Police Union has called for a Royal Commission to inquire into the gangs, and recommended a national, rather than divisional, strategy to control them. Police Minister Annette King, however, believes the incident was an anomaly-a death at a time when gangs are becoming less violent. "The killing of innocent people by gangs is very rare...
...Sociologist Gilbert, who has spent many hours with gang members and inside clubhouses for his research, is another who thinks gang violence is overstated. "An objective observer would see that the pattern of gang violence was at its peak in the '70s, '80s and '90s and is on the decline now," he says...
...mayor of Wanganui sees it very differently. "That's bullshit," says Michael Laws, who wants gangs banned from public areas. "You might have the older ones doing less crime, but they are still recruiting. And you get the younger ones who need to do crime to become patched. We've got all the police statistics for our area. The number of gang-on-gang incidents tripled in 2006, and would be even worse...
...Gang members will have to get their tattoos removed if they want to remain in Wanganui, if Laws has his way: "You get a laser treatment or go somewhere else." Chester Burrows, the National Party's law and order spokesman and member for Wanganui, has indicated that he'll try to introduce a bill to Parliament that will give local councils the right to ban gangs and gang regalia in cities. King thinks it unlikely the bill will succeed. She favors U.K.-style anti-social behavior orders to curb gang activity...
...Gang veterans say the gangs are aging, with members mellowing as they become parents themselves. Lifetime Black Power member Dennis O'Reilly, who has also worked as a senior bureaucrat for the New Zealand government, says the shooting into a gang member's house was highly unusual, and that attacks on family go against tradition. Claude Kahika, president of the Mongrel Mob's foundation Hastings chapter, admits "sporadic gang violence flares up now and again. But because of the network of older guys, a dialogue and communication is there now." He says he has been negotiating with the gangs...