New Zealand’s gangs will need to hide their gang patches or face prosecution after a new law banning gang insignia in public came into force on Thursday – a move critics believe could risk breaching the Bill of Rights and do little to reduce gang membership.
At midnight, it became illegal for gang members to display signs, symbols or patches – large insignia sewn on to jackets, for example – anywhere in public. This includes displaying insignia on their clothing or vehicles.
