27 Nov 2019

Gang leader wants to meet Simon Bridges to say plan won't work

From Morning Report, 7:20 am on 27 November 2019

A high-ranking member of the Mongrel Mob's Tauranga chapter wants to meet National leader Simon Bridges to tell him his plans for a gang crackdown won't work.

The law and order discussion document the National Party released yesterday outlines its plans to crack down on gangs.

It wants to set up a specialist police squad akin to Australia's Strike Force Raptor that would target and harass gangs.

Mr Bridges also wants tougher parole and sentencing conditions and a ban on patches and insignia.

Mongrel Mob member Greg Molony met with Mr Bridges earlier this year to discuss his stance on gangs and is now requesting a meeting to talk about the announcement.

He told RNZ reporter Katie Scotcher if implemented, the National Party's plan would fail.