Tapsell ‘soft on gangs’

Press, 3 December 1987, Page 1

Tapsell ‘soft on gangs’

Political reporter The Opposition has accused the Minister of Police, Mr Tapsen, of backing down from his promise to get tough with gangs. Mr Tapsell, just days after being named as the new Minister, made front page headlines with his statement that gang violence would be "halted dead in its tracks.”

He gave this tough message after a gang-related killing at M net a rt on But the Opposition’s spokesman on police, Mr John Banks —

a longtime critic of what he regards as soft police and penal policies — yesterday said Mr Tapsell had backed down on this firm commitment.

Mr Banks cited an article m the “New Zealand Herald" which said that the Cabinet had rejected gang measures promoted by Mr Tapsell. These included a proposal for the police to use court orders to ban individuals from associating with other gang members. Mr Banks said that the Cabinet “trendies" — led by the Minister

of Justice, Mr Palmer — had scuttled this well-intentioned move. Mr Tapsell was clearly “weak and not influential in Government.” “Mr Tapsell’s brave words that he was determined to halt mindless violence in its tracks sound fine — but words are cheap.” He challenged Mr Tapsell to stand up to the “trendies” in the Cabinet and, with support from the Opposition, to take some positive steps to control “the evil mischief which these gangs indulge in.”