Detective Superindendent Arthur Katsogiannis.
Picture: Brianne Makin Source: The Sunday Telegraph
THE new commander of the Gang Squad has vowed to step up the war on gangs but has admitted police will never rid Sydney's streets of violent criminal bikie groups.
In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis outlined a three-pronged strategy to fight criminal gangs - including going after their cash and infiltrating their networks.
But the 50-year-old has revealed that "minimising" the entrenched criminal activities of outlaw gangs has become more difficult as loyalties within the gangs fracture and gang behaviour becomes more unpredictable.
Supt Katsogiannis also said police needed to overcome the wall of silence and intimidation of victims and witnesses that made prosecutions more difficult.
"That's one of the frustrations," he said.
"It's quite prevalent. It's not the fact that anyone has been killed, but that they could be killed.
"The intimidation by those groups, and the perception among witnesses that they'll be targeted, is enough to frighten them off."
Supt Katsogiannis said he would beef up the police presence in bikie hot spots, authorise more long-term undercover operations and consider using more control orders to ban bikies from meeting or talking to one another.
"Something we'll work on is to hit them in the hip pocket: we'll be focusing on their finances," he said.
"I'd be foolish to say I could get rid of them completely. My role is to minimise and disrupt their criminal activities."
And, in a candid interview, Supt Katsogiannis revealed he had been close to quitting the police force until a religious mentor persuaded him to refocus on fighting crime.
"I'm an Orthodox Christian - my family and faith are the focus of my life," he said.
A meeting in the Arizona desert three years ago with 82-year-old Orthodox monk Elder Ephraim encouraged him to stay in the force after clocking up three decades.
"That talk with him made a big impression on me," Supt Katsogiannis said.
"He can see through you ... and he told me: 'Don't leave [the police] because that's where you can help many people.' "
Supt Katsogiannis's goals in the job are to stop the shootings that have rocked Sydney over the past three months and put an end to the violence.
The Gangs Squad has been at the forefront of the incidents, which included the airport bikie brawl, drive-by shootings, firebombings and gang fights.
"Preventing public acts of violence and public safety remain my priorities," he said.
As Supt Katsogiannis steps into his new role, tensions between bikie gangs have reached unprecedented levels. More than 50 members of the Bandidos have defected to the Hells Angels, leaving police fearing that retribution - or war - may be looming.
"It's a concern for us, but it's a trend that's happening at a national and international level," Supt Katsogiannis said.
Signs of reprisals have already begun to manifest. The home of one senior Bandidos member, in the Flemington local area command, was recently shot up and the case remains under investigation.
Supt Katsogiannis said his officers would be prepared to meet with key underworld figures and, if necessary, mediate.
"Where we have to meet and speak with some of these people, if they want that, then we will," he said.
"But we have our own ways of finding out what's happening."
To rein in the violence, Supt Katsogiannis has promised a "three-pronged attack" on gang activities.
The strategy is a combination of high-visibility and high-impact policing, long-term investigations and, potentially, more control orders through the Supreme Court.
Police have already made one application deeming the Hells Angels gang a criminal enterprise. The case is now before the High Court awaiting a judgment.
Supt Katsogiannis faces the toughest task of his career.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sunday-telegraph/how-ill-hit-bikies-in-hip-pocket/story-e6frewt0-1226020413367
