The Government’s new laws cracking down on gangs have come into effect, with Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell saying “the free ride for gangs is over”. From today gang insignia are banned in all public places, courts are able to issue non-consorting orders, and police will be able to stop criminal gang members from associating and communicating. The laws are part of a broader effort to make life more difficult for gang members, but how effective will they actually be? Lance Burdett was a senior police officer and spent much of his policing career dealing with gangs. He says people may feel safer with the new laws in place, but violent crime could actually rise.