Street gangs growing larger
Date: 2008-11-01 16:16:48
Source: ...
Submitted By: Come Get You Some
Last week New Zealand Police Inspector Jason Hewitt flew to Brisbane and warned the Queensland Youth Violence Taskforce of the emergence of gang culture across the State. But Goodna Outreach Program team leader Vince Tawora said the predicted gang explosion was full of hot air from what he saw at street level. "We have been helping the community for more than 20-odd years," Mr Tawora said. "From what I have seen out this way I would not class them as gangs." He said many kids were just out to have a good time and it was often the misperception of the public and the media that was causing alarm. "It might just be a group of Polynesian youths and the next thing you know they get portrayed as a gang," Mr Tawora said. "Then you have got the media behind it and it gets sensationalised." Mr Tawora admitted many kids were attracted to the gang culture of the US and New Zealand, but said Australian values were not the same. He questioned whether Inspector Hewitt should be making judgments from another country. "Australia is totally different," Mr Tawora said. "I don't think that would be a fair comparison." However, Griffith University Violence Research and Prevention Program Professor Paul Mazerolle said Inspector Hewitt's comments came from a wealth of experience. "We need to be aware that new problems can emerge quickly," Prof Mazerolle said. He said mass media was giving youths unprecedented access to overseas gang culture while video sharing sites like YouTube gave them their 15 minutes of fame. Prof Mazerolle said Queensland was lucky to have one of the lowest levels of criminal gangs in Australia, but warned an increase in gang activity was almost certain and solving the problem needed to be preventative and a long-term commitment. "I don't have a crystal ball, but the trends are going up, but that increase should taper out over time," he said.
