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Monday, March 7, 2011

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - Hells Angels win New Zealand court battle

OFF THE WIRE
http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20110304-266507.html

New Zealand's High Court has overturned a ban on biker gangs publicly wearing club insignia after lawyers for the Hells Angels successfully argued it limited freedom of expression.
The Wanganui Council introduced the ban on biker "patches" in 2009 after a spate of gang-related violence, arguing it would curb public intimidation in the North Island town.
It applied to 10 gangs, including the Hells Angels, Black Power, Mongrel Mob, Nomads and Tribesmen, the latter of which is affiliated with the Rebels, as Australian gang police say is expanding into New Zealand.
After a legal challenge launched by a Hells Angel member, the High Court ruled to ban was too broad because it applied to all public areas and the council had not properly considered freedom of expression issues.
"The court found the bylaw is therefore unlawful," it said in a judgement handed down Thursday.
Lawyers fighting the ban have described it as "a sledgehammer used to crack a walnut".
Wanganui Council said it would consider appealing the court's decision or revising the ban, which imposed fines of NZ$2,000 (S$1,903) on gang members caught wearing patches, to specify the areas in which it applies.
Police last month raided dozens of properties across the North Island, seized drugs, firearms, luxury cars, Harley Davidson motorcycles and cash in an operation they said was aimed at curbing the Rebels' expansion in New Zealand.