HELP US GET THE BIKIES
CRACKDOWN Cops back anti-gang laws
TASMANIAN police have backed proposed new laws banning outlaw motorcycle gang members from wearing their club colours and associating with each other.
Assistant Commissioner Glenn Frame, pictured, said there was a danger that without the laws Tassie would be a haven for bikies.
OUTLAW motorcycle gang members with criminal convictions will be banned from associating with each other — in public or private — under proposed laws backed by Tasmania Police .
Police also want a ban on bikie gang members wearing club colours, a policy flagged by the Liberal Party during the state election campaign.
Assistant Commissioner Glenn Frame said he was hopeful Organised Criminal Gang Legislation, which has been opened for consultation, would ban bikies with criminal convictions from consorting together.
Police have their eyes on members of the Bandidos, Black Uhlans, Devil’s Henchman, Outlaws and Rebels, who they believe are involved in drug distribution and violence.
“Tasmania does not want to be a safe haven for outlaw motorcycle gangs,” Assistant Commissioner Frame said.
“Other states have implemented strong laws to protect the community from them and there is a danger that, if Tasmania does not do the same, these gangs will increase their criminal activities here.”
The Tasmania Police push for anti-association laws appears to be a step up from the policy flagged during the election campaign, when thenPolice Minister Rene Hidding ruled out Queensland-style laws.
“These laws won’t affect law-abiding motorcyclists or motorcycling groups,” he said at the time.
“Outlaw motorcycle gangs that will be banned from wearing colours will have to be proscribed by the Police Minister on the advice of the Commissioner of Police, and will be subject to parliamentary oversight.
“Nor are these anti-association laws of any description — it is all about cracking down on the most dangerous outlaw motorcycle gangs.”
A spokeswoman for new Police Minister Michael Ferguson said the Government was seeking feedback on the proposed consorting laws.
“There is no doubt that ‘colours’ are used to intimidate, influence, recruit, promote and mark out territory,” he said.
“We will act to address this by banning them in public and curtailing outlaw gang activity.”
Assistant Commissioner Frame said police believed outlaw motorcycle gang members were responsible for unsolved murders in Tasmania.
“Outlaw motorcycle gangs are significant players in controlling the importation and distribution of drugs into Tasmania,” he said.
“Their business model involves serious violence and drug-trafficking and they are constantly trying to expand their numbers in Tasmania to increase their drug-trafficking network.”
Some gangs have increased their membership in the state. The Bandidos, for example, now have 20 members in East Devonport and Hobart.
The proposed legislation is out for public consultation until May 18.