GOLD COAST BULLETIN

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

GOLD Coast’s gang powerbrokers held a secret summit in a bid to cool off public violence, fearing a public backlash.

It came as senior police continued to deny the bikies were out of control, despite a public brawl between rival gangs at the Cooly

Rocks On festival, a clash at a weekend football match and the stabbing death of a Bandido associate.

Following the bikie crisis talks, gang members and associates were ordered not to wear their colours or club supporter’s gear in public.

It was believed senior bikie figures feared the violence had escalated to untenable levels and

were concerned a community backlash would prompt a police crackdown. Senior police said the clubs and their legal teams had warned gang members to “pull their heads in”, stop committing crimes and stay out of trouble.

Bikies were also urged to stay off social networking sites, including Facebook and Twitter.

The string of emergency meetings came after a series of bikie-related violent events that culminated in the murder of Bandido associate Max

Waller, who was stabbed to death in a public park in Broadbeach.

The bikie colours ban was clearly evident at a memorial for Waller, when Bandido members wore plain black clothes.

While senior detectives continued to insist the murder was not linked to bikie gangs, the community demanded action.

The crackdown bikie bosses feared came to pass just three months later following the September 2013 Broadbeach brawl.