Minister hits back at cop claims

POLICE Minister Mark Ryan says his parliamentary rival Tim Mander and the LNP should apologise for trash talking the efforts of Gold Coast police in the crackdown against bikies.

Opposition MPs on the Glitter Strip were also guilty of scare-mongering tactics about crime and needed to support their community, he said.

Mr Ryan launched an attack on Mr Mander yesterday after the former NRL whistleblower released data that showed only 27 bikies had handed back their patches since Labor introduced its organised crime laws seven months ago.

Mr Mander said Labor’s stance had been a failure compared to the Newman Government’s VLAD laws.

Mr Ryan yesterday told the Bulletin: “The Opposition are continuing to mislead Queenslanders when they continually talk down the outstanding efforts of our Queensland Police Service, particularly when it comes to our relentless pursuit of outlaw motorcycle gangs.

“Our police, including the Police Commissioner, are on record saying that patched OMCG membership is plunging and the tough new laws introduced by the Palaszczuk Government are working.

“The LNP claim that they care about the Gold Coast, however at every opportunity they make public statements that bring down the Gold Coast and talk down the outstanding efforts of the Queensland police.”