"A triumph for decency and democracy!": Wanganui District Council (Gang Insignia) Act & Bylaw - 1/09/2009"A triumph for decency and democracy!"
That is how Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws is describing the passage of the district council's anti-gang insignia by-law passed unanimously by the Wanganui District Council at its full Council meeting on Monday afternoon, August 31.
The legislation becomes operative from 1 minute past midnight on Tuesday, September 1.
"It is extraordinarily rare for Parliament to give a council these sorts of powers. To ban gang patches and gang insignia will give a real fillip to Wanganui Police and to Wanganui citizens. It removes gangs' most powerful and intimidatory weapon."
Mayor Laws said that the voice of the Wanganui community "has been instrumental in guiding us. 67% of the population voted in Referendum '07 that gang insignia be banned. And that was before the appalling murder of toddler Jhia Te Tua by Mongrel Mob members.
"We are the first city and council in New Zealand to say 'enough' to the predations and petty terrorism of gangs. Now it is time for the rest of New Zealand to follow our lead. We don't have to put up with these criminals who are intent upon undermining our society. They must not be tolerated."
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