News Item

New research released today from Jarrod Gilbert, University of Canterbury, examines New Zealand’s most significant legislative thrust targeting gangs, which occurred in the mid 1990s. It examines the efficacy of the gang laws by measuring the political intent of the measures against their actual use. The results are a damning indictment on a focus of politics over sound policy.

This report now investigates these laws further by examining longitudinal police charge data.

The purposes of the research were:
1. To examine the events involving gangs which led to heightened concern about public order and safety in the mid-1990s.
2. To interrogate the rhetorical campaigns of politicians and police leaders that created and drove the legislative agenda targeting gangs.
3. To assess the efficacy of the laws that were created in an attempt to control gangs and protect the public order.

The timing of the current project is important, because there are significant parallels between the gang situation of today, and that of the mid-1990s. To provide insights around what a contemporary legislative drive may look like, the author looked across at Australia and that country’s recent efforts to legislate against gangs. Both the local and international examples offer insights into the creation of gang laws, and more importantly offer caution at this time. The author argues that the scene is set for a renewed legislative drive against gangs in New Zealand. The report concludes by offering suggestions on what NZ should look for in any new gang law proposals.

The Report can be downloaded (pdf; 48 pages) here.

The Law Foundation provided up to $48,000 for this research.