Listen Now: 
Police plan to work with iwi and partner agencies to tackle gang violence, especially where it involves firearms.
Commissioner Andrew Coster says Operation Tauwhiro is a long term, nationally coordinated operation focused on harm prevention and enforcement.
He says violent offending, particularly involving firearms, poses significant risk and causes fear and long term harm in communities.
A key focus will be investigating and disrupting the illegal supply of firearms to gangs and organised crime groups.
Each police district will work closely with iwi and partner agencies to identify risk factors and develop interventions that can help address the underlying causes of violence and build greater community resilience.
The Police Association welcomed the strategy.
President Chris Cahill says an influx of gang members deported from Australia, the proliferation of illegal firearms, growing inter-gang tensions, and the increasing availability of methamphetamine was escalating the danger posed by criminals.
They were now more willing to use firearms against each other, against police officers, and against the public in standover tactics and armed burglaries.
!["p_facebook"]("/site/uma/images/story_img/facebook.jpg")
& !["p_twitter"]("/site/uma/images/story_img/twitter.jpg")
Copyright © 2021, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
RELATED NEWS
