Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD
Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just
Try GOLD - Free
First arrest after New Zealand bans public wearing of gang insignia
The Guardian
|November 22, 2024
New Zealand's gang members will need to hide their gang insignia or face prosecution after a new ban came into force yesterday - a move critics believe could risk breaching the country's bill of rights and do little to reduce gang membership.
At midnight, it became illegal for gang members to display signs, symbols or patches - large insignia sewn on to jackets, for example - anywhere in public. This includes displaying insignia on their clothing or vehicles.
Breaches of the ban carry a sentence of up to six months in prison or a NZ$5,000 (£2,300) fine, and insignia would have to be forfeited and destroyed.
Three minutes after the ban came into effect, a Mongrel Mob member based in Hastings was arrested for displaying a large Mongrel Mob sign on the dashboard of his car, the police confirmed to the Guardian.
He was issued a summons to appear in court and the sign was confiscated, police said.
"The free ride for gangs is over," said Paul Goldsmith, the minister for justice. "Gangs in our country think they're above the law and can choose which they comply with, and this government does not accept that."
This story is from the November 22, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Guardian
The Guardian
Gloucester profit from Llewellyn and Trenholm doubles
Almost 12 months ago to the day Exeter shipped 79 points in front of the Shed, precipitating a major coaching reshuffle and a finger-wagging post-match lecture from their chair Tony Rowe.
3 mins
April 27, 2026
The Guardian
Social media is no substitute for proper training, young chefs told
Scroll through social media and it won’t be long until you land on a cooking video.
2 mins
April 27, 2026
The Guardian
Reform demands action after Facebook post Postal worker claims he ‘dumped’ Reform UK leaflets
Royal Mail is investigating allegations that a postal worker claimed to have “dumped” Reform UK campaign leaflets in a bin ahead of the local elections on 7 May.
1 mins
April 27, 2026
The Guardian
A fiendish tale of dancing with the devil
No one tells a story like Christopher Brett Bailey.
1 min
April 27, 2026
The Guardian
China ahead in competition with US to set up lunar bases
The world watched this month as Nasa sent four astronauts around the moon - but to actually land on the surface the US is once again in a space race, this time with China.
4 mins
April 27, 2026
The Guardian
Letters to his editor show JD Salinger feared being portrayed as 'Jewish-Irish'
He was a reclusive author who revealed little about himself or the inspiration for his 1951 masterpiece, The Catcher in the Rye.
3 mins
April 27, 2026
The Guardian
Sawe makes history with show of destructive beauty
Sabastian Sawe finishes more than a minute inside the previous world record
4 mins
April 27, 2026
The Guardian
Chelsea chaos theory delivers another trophy chance as latest mini-managerial era begins
Out of chaos comes trophies.
3 mins
April 27, 2026
The Guardian
Ukraine War movie billed as a Saving Private Ryan for drone era
It is being billed as Ukraine's answer to Saving Private Ryan, updated for an age of drones.
3 mins
April 27, 2026
The Guardian
Global response World leaders express solidarity with Trump
Leaders from around the world have condemned the shooting at the White House correspondents' dinner as an act of \"political violence\" and expressed their relief that Donald Trump, officials and journalists were not harmed.
2 mins
April 27, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size