Member

This is also an opportunity to clarify that this is not a group of amendments seeking to unfairly penalise innocent groups of people. The amendments are specifically targeted at people and symbols that are unquestionably identifiable as gang related. They create separate laws for a specific form of crime and go to the heart of one of the main issues making our cities unattractive and unsafe. Gangs, as I have said, are intimidating; they prey on the weakest in our communities, recruit them for their own ends, encourage violence and increase lawlessness. We believe that these amendments are necessary steps that must be taken to curb the issue. I look forward to hearing the Minister’s response, and I beg to move.