P.M. hints at tighter controls on firearms

Press, 27 April 1983, Page 1

P.M. hints at tighter controls on firearms

PA Wellington Clashes between rival gangs in various cities brought a warning from the Prime Minister, Mr Muldoon, yesterday that the Government may move to tighten control on firearms.

His comment came as a police sergeant told a Christchurch court that the police were trying to pre-, vent the city from becoming a “gang battleground.” In Lower Hutt, rivalry erupted into violence within the courthouse precincts, and police had to rush from a nearby courtroom to separate Black Power and Mongrel Mob members. After four days of gangrelated violence in Wellington and Christchurch, the Commissioner of Police, Mr R. J. Walton, gave an assurance last evening that the police had the capability to handle rising gang problems.

Mr Muldoon, speaking at a post-cabinet press conference, said that the Government was concerned about the increasing use of guns by gangs. He was not able to say what specific measures would be taken; his thoughts had not sufficiently crystallised. ; . Legislation possibly tightening control on public firearms use is likely to be introduced this year, but Mr Muldoon said’it would not enter Parliament until after the recess.

The House of Representatives will rise for the recess after the Address-in-Reply debate ends, possibly next month.

A Police Department spokesman said yesterday that one of the laws being considered was the licensing of the owner of a firearm rather than the firearm, as of nrpcpnf Mr Muldoon said it was to “some extent” coinciden-

tai that a number of gang incidents had arisen in various parts of New Zealand over recent days. “But the issue that worries me is the growing tendency of gangs to carry and use firearms.”

He said that some people who were quick to criticise the police after a former Mongrel Mob member, Paul Chase, was shot dead by the police in Lower Hutt last week might have “cause to rethink their ideas” after other gang incidents. “The police are the meat in the sandwich in all this kind of thing,” Mr Muldoon said.

He discounted the possibility of arming the police. “I think the police can deal adequately with this situation but as I said last week, if you are going to deal with it you are going to get further examples of what you got in the Hutt,” Mr Muldoon said.

He was referring to an incident involving the firing of a shotgun, an outcome of which was the police shooting of Mr Chase.

Mr Muldoon said he did not believe that social issues such as uhemployment and the 1981 Springbok tour had anything to do with the increase in gang violence.

Mr Walton, speaking 'in Auckland, said the police were most concerned about the incidents during the long week-end. However, the gang problem was being kept under control. Mr Walton said gang houses, some of which resembled fortresses, did

not cause the police any great concern. “We have never had any difficulty in gaining entry to these places if we have to,” he said.

The Auckland police district commander, Assistant Commissioner B. W. Gibson, said “prompt and positive” action by the police had kept the gangs relatively quiet in the Auckland area. He said the police had moved swiftly to arrest offenders when there had been trouble and, in an effort to defuse tensions, the police had liaised closely With principal gang members.

Weapons, he said, came from a variety of sources. Many were stolen and others were bought on the black market.

As an example of how gang-related incidents can suddenly arise and the need for an immediate and effective response from the police, Mr Gibson referred to a recent confrontation in Mangere involving about 400 people, some as young as 10.

The people, including members of several gangs, spilled out on to a street and “a number were armed with a variety of weapons.” A firearm was reported to have been discharged. A big squad of police, including a team policing unit, were sent to the area. The police seized several firebombs. Mr Gibson said it took two hours to defuse the situation after “a lot of dialogue” with gang leaders.

N.I. incidents, page 2