OFF THE WIRE
OUTLAW motorcycle gxxgs have relaxed strict membership criteria, leading to more diverse and violent gang cultures, the country's peak crime body has warned.
As police plan a strong presence at today's funeral of slain gxxg member Giovanni Focarelli, the Australian Crime Commission says the gxxgs have changed their rules in an effort to recruit and groom members from motorcycle clubs and street gangs.
In an attempt to counter declining membership and strengthen their position against rival gxxgs, groups have evolved from a core of Caucasian males to more diverse mixes, the commission says. Many gxxgs now include members with Middle Eastern backgrounds - some who don't even ride motorcycles - and younger members recruited from street gangs. The commission says as well as increased violence, this has led to aggressive expansion and control of illicit markets and less respect for the unwritten rules of the "traditional biker".
"Some outlaw motorcycle gxxgs are recruiting street gangs and their members to assist in the distribution of illicit drugs and contraband," ACC chief executive John Lawler said.
"Some of these gang members are later recruited and become fully-patched members."
Mr Lawler said one South Australian bikie chapter actively had recruited from a street gang with members aged between 13 and 17 years. "Over a short period of time, the recruits from the street gang not only became fully-patched members, but asserted themselves as prominent group members," he said.
SA Police Assistant Commissioner (Crime) Grant Stevens agreed bikie groups were more diverse but said a culture of extreme violence had always existed.
"We know their culture of violence is such that members and associates take any opportunity to intimidate and cause harm and use violence to further their criminal activities," he said.
Mr Stevens said eight temporary detectives joining the Crime Gangs Task Force would bolster police operations to disrupt bikie activity.
"Major Crime has responsibility for the Giovanni Focarelli murder and other crime areas, such as the Drug Investigation Branch and Organised Crime Investigation Branch, conduct investigations which support the Crime Gangs Task Force," he said.
A new management plan to come into effect next month means every area of the state's police will contribute in some way to monitor gxxg members and their associates.
"The management plan will result in a greater focus on the activities of all outlaw motorcycle gxxg members wherever they might be at any time," Mr Stevens said.
Under the new plan, the Crime Gangs Task Force will direct police officers to target gxxg members in their local service areas.
They will enforce bail and warrant matters, while also playing a greater role in investigating bikie associates over street-level drug dealing and associated offences.
http://www.news.com.au/national/bikies-relax-rules-to-recruit-young-thugs/story-e6frfkvr-1226267191317
