How New Zealand Police identify organised crime

New Zealand Police primarily identify organised crime as 'a continuing association of persons having as its object, or as one of its objects, the acquisition of substantial income or assets by means of a continuing course of criminal conduct'.

Identifying organised crime by ethnicity or activity remain useful aids for Police when dealing with the day-to-day activities of overt organised groups. Further, many groups feature common characteristics that help to identify what is organised crime from crime that is simply well organised. The New Zealand Police use a collection of views to maintain a comprehensive yet flexible understanding of organised crime.
 

New Zealand gangs

Mongrel Mob, Black Power and Nomad Gangs are the prominent New Zealand gangs. Membership is dominated by Pacific Island and Maori people. They often wear distinctive patches and other gang paraphernalia, and facial and body tattoos are a common feature. These gangs have been involved in serious violence, selling and distributing drugs, possessing firearms and offensive weapons, and using intimidation and threatening tactics in pursuit of their criminal activities.

Outlaw motorcycle gangs

These are criminally based motorcycle clubs whose beginnings can be traced back to 1940s America. The 'MC' badge worn by all motorcycle gangs stands for motorcycle club and they often display a '1%' badge that indicates they are the small part of society that is not law abiding.

There are many motorcycle gangs in New Zealand and they are frequently involved in the illegal manufacture and sale of drugs, violent crime and vice.  Membership of these gangs is gangs can be of mixed race.

Local street gangs

These groups typically consist of urban youth. Much of the trouble they get into imitates the American ghetto scene and can include serious crimes such as robbery and aggravated burglary. Many street gangs exist for only short periods as they often rely on the leadership of individuals who either decide to change their lifestyle or end up in jail.

Tagging is often associated with the activities of street gangs as a means of expressing the presence of certain individuals or gangs in a neighbourhood.

See also: International Organised Crime.