Outlaw bikies worry
Police monitor new Iron Horsemen gang in Tassie
A NATIONAL outlaw bikie gang has a new presence in Tasmania that has drawn the attention of police.
Serious Organised Crime Unit Detective Inspector Glen Ball yesterday confirmed police were aware of a small number of Iron Horsemen members in the state’s South.
He said no clubhouse had been set up at this stage.
The Tasmanian members are locals and there is no suggestion they are directly linked to any interstate branches of the outlaw motorcycle club.
“Any addition to the outlaw motorcycle gang footprint in Tasmania is a concern to Tasmania Police due to the criminality associated with outlaw motorcycle gangs,” Detective Inspector Ball said.
“Our priority is to support and protect Tasmania’s law abiding citizens from organised criminality and we will continue to monitor and hold criminal organisations to account.”
The club’s emergence comes after tough anti-consorting and prohibited insignia legislation was introduced late last year to stop Tasmania becoming a “safe haven” for organised crime.
Former police minister Michael Ferguson said the laws would “send a clear message that organised crime gangs were not welcome in Tasmania”.
To date there have been 186 anti-consorting official warning notices handed out to 27 convicted offenders statewide — 127 in the Southern District and 59 in the Western District.
The controversial notices remain in force for five years and prevent known criminals from associating in the absence of a legitimate defence on two or more occasions.
Assistant Commissioner Richard Cowling last month told the Mercury that police were still preparing cases against criminal organisations in relation to the anti-colours legislation, labelling the process for authorisation “complex”.
“It’s important to note that the legislation does not automatically ban any group and imposes a number of strict criteria which must be satisfied before any organisation can be proscribed,” Assistant Commissioner Cowling said.
“Once that occurs, that group will be banned from displaying their outlaw motorcycle gang insignia.”
The five bikie gangs known to be on Tasmania Police’s radar are the Bandidos, Rebels, Outlaws, Devils Henchmen and Black Uhlans.
Detective Inspector Ball said police would now consider whether the Iron Horsemen should also be listed as an “identified organisation”.
A former Rebels bikie, who has links to several other clubs, yesterday claimed the anti-colours legislation would encourage clubs to go underground and operate on social media.
“I believe the prohibited insignia legislation opens Tasmania up to new internet-style clubs,” he said.
“They take away the toughness of being a bikie because you can survive without riding a bike.
“As it stands, if you come across a one-percenter from another club you have to be prepared to punch on, but without colours you can hide.”