Julia Gillard has announced an anti-gangs taskforce to work with state and international agencies. Source: AAP
AUSTRALIA will get a new national anti-gang taskforce to boost co-operation between state and federal police to target gang-related gun crime and drug dealing.
The taskforce was announced by Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Sunday at the start of her five-day visit to key Labor electorates in western Sydney.
But she denies the plan is a ploy to win back voters in the west, where there's been a recent spate of shootings and where Labor is polling badly and set to lose seats.
Ms Gillard said gang violence was a problem on the streets of Sydney's west but it was also a problem in other parts of the nation.
"This is about a national plan and bringing new national resources to make a difference," she said.
The National Anti-Gang Taskforce will tackle sophisticated gang operations involved in weapons trading and drug dealing, which has led to shootings in Melbourne and Sydney.
Ms Gillard said the taskforce was modelled on the FBI's Violent Gangs Safe Street Taskforce, which has made 55,000 arrests in the US since 2001.
"These are new measures to try and make sure we are combating the gangs and guns on our streets," she said.
The taskforce will have $64 million in funding and comprise 70 members of the Australian Federal Police and state police forces.
It will have an intelligence centre in Canberra and strike teams in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
It will reinforce the efforts of state police strike forces and provide better intelligence, as it reaches out to international agencies to target Australian gang activity across borders.
The plan aims to give state police forces better access to the Australian Tax Office, Centrelink, the Department of Immigration and other agencies in targeting criminal gang activity and seizing assets.
The state police strike teams will also include cyber investigators.
Another key measure is the AFP Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce, which will help state strike teams seize assets bought with the proceeds of gang-related crimes.
Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare says gangs are fighting over turf and money in places like western Sydney.
"Money creates power in the criminal underworld and the more we do to help police seize the cash, seize the houses, seize the cars of these criminals, the more we can shift the balance of power on the street," he said.
Mr Clare also announced a new National Border Targeting Centre aimed at stopping high-risk international passengers and cargo, such as drugs and contraband, at Australia's borders.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says the coalition will support the anti-gang taskforce if it makes sense.
He says it sounds like a coalition proposal from the last election.
"We'll have a good look at it, if it makes sense we'll support it," Mr Abbott said.
NSW Police Minister Mike Gallacher said the state had been calling for federal assistance to tackle gangs and drugs for a long time.
But he said there's been minimal consultation and $64 million isn't a lot when spread among the states and territories over four years.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
PM announces anti-gang taskforce
Dengan url
http://beritasementara.blogspot.com/2013/03/pm-announces-anti-gang-taskforce.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
PM announces anti-gang taskforce
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
PM announces anti-gang taskforce
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar