BIKIES BACKUP
Cops called in from around nation
POLICE from every Australian state and territory will be sworn in to serve alongside their Tasmanian counter- parts over the next several days as hundreds of bikies begin to descend on the state.
Members of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang began trickling into Tasmania yesterday before their national run across the state that starts today. Up to 400 Rebels from throughout the country are in Tasmania for the four-day ride.
Next month hundreds of Bandi- idos will also arrive in the state.
Police have warned both gangs too be on their best behaviour.
Police will closely monitoring the hordes of riders because of their associations with criminal activity and anti-social behaviour.
An Australian Federal Police spokeswoman said as part of Operation Morpheus, members from the AFP, Victoria Police, NSW Police, Queensland Police, NT Police, WA Police and SA Police were being sworn in to help Tasmania Police “address criminal activity and any intimidating or threatening behaviour over the week”.
“It is imperative Australian law enforcement agencies continue to work together and share intelligence to disrupt and dismantle organised crime,” she said.
Bikies began arriving in Devonport yesterday on the Spirit of Tasmania to travel to Hobart via the East Coast.
From November 19-26, about 300 Bandidos members will also arrive in Devonport before heading to Port Arthur for two nights.
There are five established outlaw motorcycle gangs in the state, made up of 14 chapters and about 280 members.
The Rebels have about 80 members in Tasmania with clubhouses in North Hobart, Sorell, Kingston, Devonport and Mornington. The Bandidos have a “prospect chapter” in Devonport with about six known members.
As part of the National Anti-Gangs Squad, an AFP liaison officer works within the Tasmania Police Serious Organised Crime Unit, which has a large focus on the gangs.
Tasmania Police Inspector Glen Ball said every police jurisdiction in the country had its own plan.
“Generally across the state, all officers are encouraged to focus attention whenever OMCGs are observed on the road,” he said.
Inspector Ball said there would be a big police presence in North Hobart tonight because of a reported private function at the Rebels clubhouse in Burnett St.
“The expectation is that all the members that are on this national run will attend this function,” he said.
Meanwhile, Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie has called for a crackdown on organised crime through a national approach via the Council of Australian Governments.
Senator Lambie said the Bandidos had moved to East Devonport because another state was tough on organised crime.
“The gangs are a bit smarter than what you take them for, and they will just move to the next state, which is exactly what is happening,” she said.
“We need to send a stronger message to organised crime gangs and tell them to, ‘get out’. We can do that if we take a national approach.”
She said Tasmania’s antifortification laws did not scare the Bandidos who had moved in to cause trouble.