The coalition has appointed an Advisory Group on transnational and serious organised crime. Photo: Nathan Mckinnon
The coalition has appointed an Advisory Group on transnational and serious organised crime.
It will provide independent advice to ensure there is a better cross-government response in tackling international and domestic crime groups said the Associate Police Minister.
Associate Police Minister Casey Costello said criminal groups are organised like businesses and "we have to address their activities accordingly".
She said this would be done by stopping their product and supply chains, their use of 'labour' and targeting their money.
She sees a greater role for agencies like ACC, WorkSafe and Inland Revenue to work alongside Immigration, MPI and law enforcement to fight organised crime.
"The way all of these agencies operate and work together will be a focus for the advisory group."
It will also look at the way investigations and prosecutions are managed, and how frontline cooperation can be improved.
The group will provide advice and recommendations on how law enforcement and regulatory agencies "can improve enforcement and disruption action," Costello said.
She said organised criminal activity inflicts "misery in our communities" and harms the broader economy.
"The illicit drug trade alone is estimated to have cost the country close to $1.5 billion in social harm last year."
She wants agencies to more effectively use the regulatory and law enforcement levers available to them.
Costello said the group will be in place for eight months and funded through the proceeds of crime fund.
It will be chaired by Steve Symon - a senior partner at law firm Meredith Connell. It will also include Craig Hamilton, John Tims and researcher and sociologist Jarrod Gilbert, with a fourth member being appointed soon.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
