Bikie gangs united in opposition to proposed ban

OFF THE WIRE
BY: Brendan Trembath
Source: abc.net.au
Australia - Bikie gangs have met in Sydney to discuss their response to the New South Wales Police move to have the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club declared a criminal organisation.
Representatives of the United Motorcycle Council (UMC) are warning that the same state law could be used against other clubs and groups in society.

The UMC expects to eventually challenge the proposed ban in the High Court, but first there is another legal fight brewing - this one involving parking tickets.

Council spokesman Ferret says they were sent out several days after a protest outside the New South Wales Parliament.

"We were told by a high ranking police officer outside the parliament that it would be all right if we parked outside because it was a peaceful demonstration," he said.

"Raptor - the alleged bike squad - decided that that wasn't good enough, that they'll fine us anyway."

When the parking tickets arrived in the mail the bikies smelled a rat.

The police strike force had their name 'Raptor' handwritten on each envelope.

Ferret says they will challenge the fines in court, but bikies have a bigger beef with the state police.

The police began legal action last week to have the Hells Angels Club declared a criminal organisation. It is part of a continuing crackdown on outlaw motorcycle gangs after a fatal brawl at Sydney airport last year in which a Hells Angels associate died.

Two Hells Angels attended the UMC meeting but both declined to be interviewed.

They said they wanted to speak out against the proposed ban, but thought it best to let their lawyer Wayne Baffsky do the talking.

Interim control order

The Sydney barrister talked about the proposed ban as the Hells Angels and other bikers cleaned up after their meeting.

"If they're [police] successful in having the Angels declared as a criminal organisation under the Act the next step will be that they get an interim control order that's done in our absence - we won't know anything about it," he said.

"If a judge grants interim control orders over the individual members of the Angels, it's enlisted for hearing for a final control order in the Supreme Court, and if that happens... if final control orders are made, then of course those members who have got control orders can't associate with each other forever," he said.

"They can't work in certain occupations as prescribed in the Act; there are quite serious consequences and also given that there are many fathers and sons and bothers who are in clubs, it's really quite serious.

"From what I understand from my reading of the Act these orders last forever unless revoked."

Police allege that some bikie groups have been involved in everything from murder to drug trafficking, but Mr Baffsky says they are in the minority.

"From what I understand there are something like 1,600 or 1,000-odd members of the various outlawed motorcycle clubs," he said.

"The great majority from my understanding are.... just ordinary people - they have jobs, have children, have grandchildren.

"There certainly are some people that are involved in crime obviously, but I would have thought that those, if they are involved in organised crime, constitute a very, very small minority of the overall numbers involved in motorcycle clubs, outlawed motorcycle clubs."

Outlaw motorcycle clubs are well represented in the UMC, but it's a diverse group.

Feral, as he's known, rides with the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club. He's also worried by the police plan to ban the Angels.

"These laws are unjust, they're unnecessary and they go against the right of law, or the rule of law... where people are being discriminated against by the clothes they wear and their lifestyle," he said.

"Not criminal, but because they ride a bike and because of people that you know."

The UMC really is a broad church.

Fish is a bible reading bikie who rides with the God Squad. He also disagrees with a law which would prevent members of a banned club from associating with each other.

"How anyone can determine that a bit of cloth on your back [or] a patch can make you a criminal is ridiculous," he said.

"The next thing that will happen - maybe some surfies will get into trouble and everyone wearing a Billabong shirt will be considered a criminal."

For now though it is the Hells Angels who have to watch their backs and they are preparing for a long and costly legal campaign.