AUSTRALIA - Police get tough as 1000 Rebels ride in

BY: Anthony Dowsley
Source: heraldsun.com.au/

OFF THE WIRE

A Rebels bikie gives a breath test to a police officer at Ryans Creek, south of Wedderburn. Picture: Daryl Pinder Source: Herald Sun

UPDATE 11.42am: MEMBERS of the Rebels motorcycle club have been detected committing offences on their way to a gathering at Mildura this morning.
A significant police presence descended on Port Melbourne this morning as members of the outlaw gang set off for Mildura.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Jack Blayney confirmed this morning that some of the bikies had been pulled over by police for alleged drug possession and speeding offences.
"En route to Victoria we've had offences been committed by Rebel members and in Mildura we've already detected offences committed by Rebel members and their associates,'' Mr Blayney said.
"This is not a basketball club, this is not a bowling club, this is an outlaw motorcycle gang that are involved in serious organised crime across Australia.''
Police are investigating the gang over other criminal activities as gang members make their way into Mildura.

Bikies pulled over

"However ... this is not what I would say would be significant offending whereby the community should be concerned about their safety in the street,'' Mr Blayney said.

A Victoria Police spokesman said officers had conducted searches and checks of bikies as they left Station Pier.
“As part of Victoria Police’s increased presence in the state in relation to the Rebels’ national run we are in Port Melbourne checking a number of bikies,” he said.
Up to 1000 "patched" members of the club, from all 70 chapters around Australia, will descend on Mildura.
The police show of force will be a turnaround on last year's Rebel national "run" when police took a "softly softly" approach, ignoring breaches of road rules.
Misbehaviour on or off the road will not be tolerated as club members ride from across the country.
Outlaw bikies will not be able to run red lights or speed without sanction and they can expect to be stopped for drug and alcohol testing.
Victoria Police's Echo taskforce, which has raided several gangs this year, will be part of the operation.
The Mildura community is believed to be apprehensive about the arrival of hundreds of bikies.
"Police will act to prevent and detect outlaw motorcycle gang members who commit crimes, public safety-related offences or breach road rules," a police spokesman said.
"As part of a national approach we are working closely and will continue to work in partnership with other jurisdictions and our law enforcement partners ... (they) will be treated like any other motorist."
The bikies are already travelling in convoy through South Australia and other parts of Australia, where they are being monitored.
Already one member has been nabbed for dangerous speeding in South Australia's mid-west.
Police will allege the Rebel, 50, from Western Australia, was clocked at 191km/h in a 110km/h zone.
He immediately lost his licence for six months and his Harley-Davidson was impounded for 28 days.
Detective Inspector Steve Taylor, from the South Australia Police Crime Gangs Taskforce, said it was a "typical" example of why resources were directed into managing large numbers of outlaw bikies on the roads.
"Unless we convoy-manage and control them, they have a complete and utter disregard for the law and other road users," he said.
The Herald Sun was told last year a convoy of bikies had been clocked travelling at up to 140km/h, but police did not take action because of official instructions.
Although the Rebels are expected to ride to Mildura, police will be ready to carry out interceptions if they change their planned route.
Last year the riders headed to Melbourne after planning to meet in Mildura.
dowsleya@heraldsun.com.au
- with Shannon Deery