There has been an escalation in gang violence in New Zealand in recent yearsPolice are planning a major nationwide crackdown on gangs. The six-month-long operation, dubbed Operation Cobalt, is scheduled to begin in late June, Stuff has learned. All 12 police districts will dedicate staff to it, and a special taskforce will be set up in Auckland - the epicentre of organised crime in New Zealand. Opposition political parties, like National, have called for a police crackdown on gangs, saying the Government’s “soft on crime approach” has allowed organised crime groups to behave as if “they can act with impunity”. Police Minister Poto Williams said the Government “is serious about tackling gangs and organised crime”.

Source: New Zealand Herald May 03, 2022 09:43 UTC