July 15, 2022
Tough on poverty is Green gang cure
Getting tough on poverty is the best way to get tough on crime.
That’s the response of Green MP Teanau Teaono to the Government’s proposed gang legislation which will give the police greater powers to seize assets and prosecute gun offences.
He says it’s a gut reaction to some current events rather than a research-based response to the long term determinants of crime.
“So everyone goes on abut being tough on crime but what we need to be is tough on poverty. When you have that strong foundation in our communities people are less likely to fall of the wagon so we’re talking about liveable incomes, access to essential services, affordable rents, warm homes, good jobs, all of those things give us cohesive, strong communities,” Mr Tuiono says.