The absurdity of National’s Gang Patch ban

Written By: - Date published: 12:19 pm, December 29th, 2024 - 15 comments
Categories: crime, human rights, national, paul goldsmith, police, same old national - Tags:

It did not take long for the first example of the absurdity of the Government’s gang patch ban to appear.

A 12 year old has been questioned by police for wearing a black t shirt depicting a fist and with the words “Kia Kaha Boxing Club” endorsed on it.

From Television New Zealand:

There are concerns police have misused a new gang patch ban law after a 12-year-old boy was questioned on Christmas Day for wearing a boxing gym t-shirt, featuring elements of the Black Power logo.

The boy was walking to a friend’s house on Wednesday when officers, earlier responding to a medical event across the road, approached him.

They told the 12-year-old they were allowed to confiscate his t-shirt, which displayed the logo of his boxing gym.

The gym, Kia Kaha Boxing Club, is associated with Black Power and had elements of the gang’s insignia in its logo, including a raised fist and two ferns. The gym has been open since 1995 and operated out of the Black Power Marae in Mt Wellington. The symbol has been a part of the club since its inception.

The tshirt was a Christmas present.

The young man was detained, taken to his home and his Tshirt was confiscated. He was also referred to Youth Aid. This must have been terrifying for him.

What is really weird is the Club had previously sought advice from the Minister of Justice about the legality of its tshirt and had been assured that the intention was not to criminalise associated insignia.

Again from Television New Zealand:

The boxing club had earlier contacted the Police Minister, seeking clarification on its logo and received a response from Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith.

“I want to reassure you that the intention of this law is not to criminalise symbols where they are not actually part of a gang insignia,” Goldsmith wrote. “The law is intended to prevent the intimidation and fear felt by some members of our community when they see gang patches, and to prevent gangs from promoting themselves.

“This is intended to capture, for example, gang patches on the back of leather vests, which are not able to be worn by ordinary members of the public. However, a fern or raised fist symbol that you have identified can be worn in many contexts unrelated to gangs, so are not intended to be captured by the offence.”

This is completely over the top policing. If I had a tshirt like this I would wear it to show the absurdity of the law.

And this more aggressive policing of the issue correlates with the appointment of the new Police Commissioner. Former Commissioner Andrew Coster had a much more gentle approach to these issues.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell has said that kids shouldn’t be wearing clothes with gang insignia in public. But the problem is what qualifies. Is any black tshirt with a fist now verbotten?

This really needs to end up in court. So that the Justice System can determine that this legislation and the associated policing are egregious breaches of our rights.

15 comments on “The absurdity of National’s Gang Patch ban ”

  1. Kat 1
    29 December 2024 at 1:06 pm

    Probably a cheaper, quicker way to scrap (all) the madness, than tying up the courts with endless judicial review, is to have an early election……is Chippie and co ready…….

    Reply
  2. dv 2
    29 December 2024 at 1:06 pm

    Maybe the cops picked stupid example so they would get blowback, so the could reduce the pressure for arrests? Maybe?

    Reply
  3. Ffloyd 3
    29 December 2024 at 1:11 pm

    Did the boy get his shirt back, does anybody know?

    Reply
  4. The Veteran 4
    29 December 2024 at 3:02 pm

    Labour apologists crying poor. Your soft on crime policies and bugger the victims are reaping their just rewards. The rest of us can only reflect on what it will be like with Kevin McN as PM and TPM and the Greens calling the shots.

    I can understand why the post will never see the light of day. For Labour and their allies free speech means the ability to agree with their policies. Disagree and you're gon-burger.

    [Looks like the machine let your comment through so your main point has been shot down. Equating banning tshirts with soft on crime policies if weird.

    Your post has seen the light of day. Obviously the Standard has more respect for free speech than your Government.

    MS]

    Reply
    • SPC 4.1
      29 December 2024 at 4:16 pm

      Evidence?

      As for the projection and transference, can you name anyone in the public service or government appointee who has criticised this administration and survived?

      Reply
    • Patricia Bremner 4.2
      29 December 2024 at 5:26 pm

      Veteran of what? Hot Air Balloons? Crime has accelerated away, on the same gradient as unemployment. imo which is as valuable as yours. Free speech, when your lot don't agree they get nasty online or don't even engage or try to change the Law without examination. Democracy gets foreshortened truncated and fast tracked.

      Reply
    • adam 4.3
      29 December 2024 at 6:22 pm

      What a stupid comment The Veteran – you must be one of those idiots from the sensible sentencing trust. Happy to kill brown kids for tagging, and server a under 2 years for it. Then call the left soft on crime. What a crock of shit. Your just sceared that Te Pāti Māori will start cracking down on white collar criminals, hate crimes, and idiots who think they above the law.

      This is a dumb law made for dumb people to crow over, and targeting 12 year olds goes far to show how much a crock of shit this law is.

      As for comments getting banned – I've never had one comment get past the moderators of this countries right wing sites. Mind you they have no balls, just like you. Just a collection of whinging snowballs – that's the right in this country. Snowflakes one and all.

      Reply
  5. Mike the Lefty 5
    29 December 2024 at 3:05 pm

    Goldsmith once again showing the low KPI performance expected of him as a minister of the crown.

    Reply
  6. Jenny 6
    29 December 2024 at 5:08 pm

    Mickysavage has his Spartacus moment.

    "If I had a tshirt like this I would wear it to show the absurdity of the law."

    mickysavage

    Good idea.

    Let's all order this boxing club's tshirt

    Reply
  7. adam 7
    29 December 2024 at 6:35 pm

    Lets face it we now live in a Mammonite colony.

    Racism and hate of working people is the new norm.

    This tune is to help you get through it, and remind our so called Christian PM & his upper room mates – Eve was black

    Reply
  8. thinker 8
    29 December 2024 at 10:28 pm

    Tv news tonight, Mark Mitchell blames the boxing club.

    Quelle accountability!

    Reply

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