Stuart Nash and Mark Mitchell on gang violence in Tauranga

There are reassurances from the Police Minister's to those concerned about getting caught in gang crossfire.Investigations are ongoing into a double homicide in Tauranga last week, with two other deaths connected to it.The latest body found is that of a woman, who was found at a home in the suburb of Brookfield.A man was also shot dead by police after a pursuit. Police say the deaths involve gang members, but aren't the result of gang conflict.Stuart Nash told the Weekend Collective Police aren't sitting around waiting to solve gang crime. "It's a matter of going out there and ensuring these gang members obey the law, and when they don't, the Police are there to sort them out." He says that one of the issues here is the arrival of deportees from Australia. "There is a massive patching going on amongst our local gangs, your Black Power and the Mongrel Mob." He believes the Police need more resources, and says that within the next year, there will be legislation passed that will allow them to follow the money from the gangs.National's Police spokesperson Mark Mitchell says that his party will tighten up the laws if they get into government at this year's election. He says that their main anti-gang plan - a taskforce they are calling Strike Force Raptors - is a continuation of anti-gang forces that have already operated. "They are effective, but they're small. Once they've executed a few warrants, they are off the streets trying to prepare prosecution files."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.