Gang patches of Black Power (left) and the Mongrel Mob. Photo / Supplied
Gang patches of Black Power (left) and the Mongrel Mob. Photo / Supplied
A life member of Black Power Denis O'Reilly says a bill to ban people wearing gang patches in government-owned buildings, including local council facilities, is a waste of time and a breach of human rights.
National MP for Rotorua Todd McClay's bill progressed in Parliament today and was voted throughits first reading by 69 votes to 52.
It prevents gang patches from being worn in all government premises, including schools, hospitals and public service buildings such as Work and Income offices.
The bill will now be debated at select committee, and if it passed, would be enforced by police - gang members could be fined up to $2000 and have their patch confiscated and destroyed.
Black Power life member Denis O'Reilly said existing laws already dealt with people who intimidate others and banning people wearing gang patches wasn't the right way to address violence and intimidation.
"We've got more to worry about from men in suits than from chaps in patches - the international financial crash isn't because of some gangster walking around a shopping mall,
"We should be more worried about banksters than gangsters."
"It's a populist policy, it's Michael Laws-type talk back land and it's not an intelligent analysis."
Mr O'Reilly was a regular visitor to Parliament wearing his gang patch and his patch was photographed on the coffin of former Prime Minister Norm Kirk.
He said there is no evidential basis to say that the gang community were an organised criminal group, but agreed people should be punished for intimidating others.
National Party MP and former police officer Mark Mitchell said the Government had to continue to "turn up the heat" on gangs.
"When my Mum or daughters walk into Government offices I don't want them to have to see gang members walking around with patches on - those patches signify one thing, that is that they have committed crimes against our society," he said.