June 17, 2022
Public health approach may offer gang solution
A veteran gang advisor says politicians should look at policies that have worked rather than repeat other people’s mistakes.
Harry Tam says National Party leader Christopher Luxon’s so-called evidence-based approach is evidence-free, while Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s talk about preventing young people from coming into gangs ignores the fact many recruits are from gang whānau.
He told Radio Waatea talkback host Matthew Tukaki that politicians touting solutions from over the Tasman refuse to admit those approaches aren’t working and won’t suit local conditions.
“Why don’t we look at countries that have had problems and have got closer to the solutions. Take the example of Glasgow. They had a horrendous youth gang problem where there were brawls in public and stabbing and so forth, and they took a public health approach, recognising that violence is actually a public health issue, and they had much greater levels of success,” Mr Tam says.
He says there are also studies of American cities showing 30 years of complete suppression in Los Angeles has failed whereas New York’s community development approach had far greater success.