National to back new anti-gang legislation

National says it will back legislation that will increase sentences for criminal gang membership and make participation an aggravating factor at sentencing.

The Organised Crime (Penalties and Sentencing) Bill is yet to be introduced to Parliament, but Justice Minister Annette King today said she had written to National seeking its support for the bill.

A spokesman for National leader John Key said the party would support the bill, which appeared to mimic its own policy.

He said it appeared the Government had brought out the bill in a bid to head off National's criticism of the Government's record on organised crime.

Ms King said the bill amended the Crimes Act to increase the maximum penalty for participation in an organised criminal group from five years jail to 10 years.

That penalty change would also allow interception warrants to be sought for investigations into such participation.

"Such warrants are an essential tool in investigating participation offences."

The bill also amends the Sentencing Act to make it an aggravating factor "when an offence is committed partly or wholly because of the offender's participation in an organised criminal group".

Ms King said the amendments were part of a broader strategy that included the establishment of the Organised and Financial Crime Agency, which is set to start operation on July 1.

- NZPA