New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has responded to concerns about a recent increase in shootings and gang-related violence, stating that the p
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has responded to concerns about a recent increase in shootings and gang-related violence, stating that the public has “good grounds” to have confidence in the government’s handling of crime. He expressed his concern about the escalation in public violence and gang tension, stating that such events are not acceptable. The government is actively resourcing the police to address these issues. Hipkins mentioned that around 43,000 charges have been issued against gang members as part of Operation Cobalt, which targets organized criminal activity. He highlighted efforts to remove illegal firearms from circulation and establish a firearms register to address the issue of illegal firearms. While acknowledging heightened anxiety about certain forms of crime, Hipkins stated that the public can be confident in the government’s actions to address crime and tackle issues like youth offending and gang-related criminal activities.
