Government ganging up on crime
Image: Bra Boys' Marcario de Souza, Koby and Sunny Abberton
Maroubra locals have cautiously welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement about the formation of a new anti-gang taskforce aimed at combating gang-related crime in Australia.
The taskforce will tackle gang-related crime through the use of strike teams that specifically target and investigate gang members.
“We recognise the hard work that state and territory police do every day in dealing with violent crime on our streets and they do a very good job,” said Australian Federal Police Commissioner Tony Negus.
The announcement was made in response to the rising number of drive-by shootings in NSW, in addition to gang-related violence and crime across the country.
In 2011, there were 88 reported incidents of drive-by shootings in NSW, a spike of 15 cases from the previous year.
“This is about looking at another dimension and looking at a national picture in the national interest of how we can help fight the violent crime we are now seeing in various cities around the country,” said Mr Negus.
The taskforce will collaborate with state police on intelligence sharing and is modelled around the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s successful Violent Gang Safe Street Taskforce in the United States.
At Maroubra – home to controversial surfing group the ‘Bra Boys’ – the consensus was positive about the government initiative.
Ali, owner of Alamdar Fruit Shop in Maroubra Junction, is hopeful the taskforce will reduce the amount of gang-related crime in the area.
“Most of them are teenagers, between 14 to 18. They come inside [the shop] and they bother people, asking for money, pinching food and [doing] whatever they like,” he said.
Others like IT worker, Jonathan, said the taskforce will have a minimal impact on the neighbourhood.
“I haven’t personally found much evidence of gang activity in the area. I think that we largely live completely safely. Maroubra doesn’t have an incredibly high crime rate. I mean, compare this to say Bankstown or Punchbowl or any suburb that is actually dangerous, and the difference is basically night and day,” he said.
John, a bottle shop worker in Maroubra Junction, said most gangs in the area do not interfere with the daily life in the neighbourhood.
“I know there are gangs based in Maroubra but I don’t see any problems with those [people]. With motorcycle gangs, there are some but they don’t cause any problems around here.”
He said the anti-gang taskforce will not impact gang-related criminal activity in Maroubra, with much of the worst criminal activity conducted elsewhere.
“There’s an old saying that people don’t like to shit in their own nests and that’s pretty much true in any organised gang around here,” he said.
The formation of the anti-gang taskforce was announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare, Mr Negus and the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service on March 3. The taskforce is set to come into effect this June.
