Simon Bridges National Party Leader simonbridges.co.nz

Every week we're hearing more and more reports of gang related violent incidents and Tauranga is no different.

What we've seen in Tauranga lately is like LA style gang warfare. The presence of gangs is spreading like a cancer on our society.

It's not right that parents should be thinking twice about whether to let their children walk to school, or becoming increasingly concerned about who their children are hanging out with.

It's not right that every morning when we open the paper we expect another incident.

An increase in gangs and membership means an increase in crime. It's as simple as that.

Right now the Government isn't doing enough. It took violence in Police Minister Stuart Nash's own electorate before he admitted New Zealand has a gang problem.

His Government also refused to support our Firearms Prohibition Orders Bill, a sensible piece of legislation that gives the Police more powers to take firearms off gang members.

It's clear the Government hasn't got a plan. National put forward a number of proposals in our Law and Order Discussion Document, and we'll have more with our Gang Plan that we'll release this year.

On Thursday, February 27, I'm holding a public meeting in response to the increasing number of gang related incidents. It's time the Government started supporting our communities before this escalates even more.

Public Meeting: Thursday, February 27, 6:30pm, Tauranga Yacht & Power Boat Club, Sulphur Point.