South Australia vows to crack down on street gangs, expanding police powers

The South Australian government has vowed to crack down on street gangs by introducing “tough new measures” that give police greater powers and prevent further recruits to the crime rings.

The proposed new laws will expand current police powers, giving them the authority to treat street gangs in a similar way to outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Further changes would include creating a new offence making it illegal for people to recruit members to a street gang, as well as ensuring courts can impose conditions on street gang participants, such as preventing them from possessing certain weapons and associating with certain individuals and attending certain locations.

Other changes would allow the police commissioner to apply to the court for control orders to restrict certain activities for street gang members and participants, and allow for identified criminal groups to be declared as street gangs by regulation.

“These reforms are all about cracking down on street gangs by giving police greater powers, similar to what they have for outlaw motorcycle gangs, to keep the South Australian community safe,” South Australia Attorney-General Kyam Maher said.

“These proposed new laws have been developed in close consultation with SAPOL and are designed to give them appropriate legislative tools to tackle these criminal groups.”

“This government is continuing to deliver on policies that are tough on crime, protect the community and support our law enforcement agencies,” he said.

“This comes on the back of this year’s state budget investment that will help our law enforcement agencies in bringing offenders to account, and securing justice for victims of crime.”