Slow start to bikie law
NOT one bikie has been caught wearing club colours in public since the prohibited insignia legislation came into effect two months ago.
The State Government said the law would help disrupt and disband criminal groups “involved in drug importation and distribution, murder, rape, extortion, debt collecting and firearms offences”.
The ban currently applies to the Bandidos, Outlaws, Devils Henchman, Black Uhlans and Rebels.
But Serious Organised Crime Division Detective Inspector Glen Ball told the Mercury Tasmania Police was progressing recommendations to have further outlaw motorcycle gangs prescribed as “identified organisations”.
“There have been no breaches of the prohibited insignia legislation since it took force in November,” he said.
“Tasmania Police has liaised with the identified OMCGs to ensure members understand that the wearing of their insignia in public won’t be tolerated.
“These are criminal gangs and their colours are designed to show affiliation with this criminality and intimidate others. The laws don’t affect other motorcycle clubs.”
Rebels member of more than 20 years, Shaun Kelly, said the “fashion police” were yet to break up a single club.
“The legislation has caused the unknown and now you don’t know who’s who in the zoo,” he said.
“How many of the 270 alleged motorcycle club members in Tasmania have actually been charged and convicted with the distribution of ice before and since the introduction of the laws? By doing what they’ve done as the fashion police, they’ve achieved absolutely nothing.
“Who is next to lose the right to wear what they want and associate with who they wish?”
Australian Lawyers Alliance state president and director Fabiano Cangelosi, who represented Mr Kelly on a recently dismissed evade charge, said there was a lot of “conflicting
information from police” circulating within clubs.
Mr Cangelosi said he had been informed of cases where clothing had been seized and later returned because police realised it wasn’t prohibited.
“I’m also aware of anecdotal cases where people have been approached in circumstances when they would not have been before, seemingly just because they are riding an American-style motorbike,” he said.