Gang patch ban distraction, says O’Reilly

Gideon Porter Denis O'Reilly | Gang patch ban distraction, says O'Reilly

Download Audio

Lifetime Black Power member Denis O’Reilly says the gang patch ban is merely a distraction from the more significant issues facing Māori and will ultimately be a waste of time and money.

O’Reilly believes most gang members will quietly comply with any new law, but he emphasizes that the real concern is criminal behaviour, not a criminal dress code.

He says while Māori initiatives are being rolled back and the Treaty of Waitangi is under attack, the government appears to believe locking up more Māori is the solution.

“The chilling fact that they’re prepared to double the size of Waikeria Prison, and turn it into a super prison. So, they’re preparing to lock up more Māori, young people, than ever before,” says O’Reilly.

Denis O’Reilly says decades of research shows that “getting tough on crime” doesn’t work.

RELATED NEWS

Coromandel folk swab up Boost to long life research career Youthful population more at risk of prison time