Typecast no more: Gang members okayed for security work
Two patched Black Power members have been given the green light to do security work in a rare round of decisions by the industry’s licensing authority.
Patched membership of a gang would in most cases disqualify someone from security work, but the Private Security Personnel Licensing Authority found no actual conflict for these two men — one described as making “impressive” changes, and the other “an excellent security guard”.
The authority released two recent decisions detailing their cases.
In one, fully patched Black Power member Meketu Mahauariki applied to become a security worker to police objections, citing his gang membership and history of repeated drinkdriving and breaching community work convictions dating back to 2016.
At an online hearing, Mahauariki said he had “ended his destructive relationship with alcohol” and meth, saying he did not relapse when a close family member died recently.
He had a full-time job offer and had a self-care plan that together with his gang chapter and whānau made up a good support system.
His chapter recently signed a new constitution against violence, crime, drugs and general wearing of patches.
Police confirmed the chapter’s positive moves and said they had no record of Mahauariki’s involvement in unlawful gang activity.
The authority ruled Mahauariki suitable to be a security worker, on several conditions, including that he remain on the straight and narrow with police and employers.
In the second case, Auckland security worker David-James Harris was fired after he became a patched member and sergeant of arms at the Black Power Papakura chapter.
His gang membership did not interfere with his work but there was a potential conflict of interest, his employer Allied Security said in its complaint to the authority.
Police echoed the potential conflict between gang membership and security work, but said Harris had a history of engaging positively with police and managed conflicts well.
Harris said his Black Power chapter was a “whānau-based club with strong rules”, and he joined at senior members’ request to help members get away from criminal behaviour and into gainful employment.
Staff at Work & Income, where Harris worked until he was fired, spoke highly of his professionalism and character, calling him an “excellent security guard”.