BY: JORDAN OLIVER
thecourier.com.au
Members of the Finks in Doveton Street.
Police hit Ballarat’s streets in force on Saturday night for a high-visibility public order operation, coinciding with a visit from the Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Club. While Victoria Police would not confirm the gathering was a prelude to any increased bikie presence in Ballarat, they said they would continue to maintain increased vigilance over any potential illegal activities.
As part of the operation, a Victoria Police marked camera van was parked for extended periods in the northbound lane of Doveton Street, with a clear view down Grainery Lane.
Men wearing colours and insignia representing the Finks Motorcycle Club and its supporter groups were seen coming and going from a red-brick building in Grainery Lane during the day and into the night.
Several men bearing the club’s insignia also stood at the entrance to Grainery Lane for much of the night.
Ballarat police divisional superintendent Andrew Allen said there was no confirmation the Finks were establishing a chapter in Ballarat.
He also said it was the “first time there’s been any activity from them” in the area.
“I can confirm that a number of people who we believe to be part of the Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Club were visiting a location in Ballarat on Saturday night,” he said.
“We believe they’re from a Melbourne chapter.”
Superintendent Allen said police were aware of the visit well in advance and involved the state’s bikie-gang taskforce to assist with the high-visibility police operation.
“We received some intelligence that suggested members of the Finks might be going to visit Ballarat, so we involved Taskforce Echo,” he said.
“The use of the marked police camera van was to prevent and detect offences and it has been quite successful in the past.”
Superintendent Allen said
the Finks’ members “kept to themselves” and did not cause any trouble, but police detected other offences during the high-visibility operation.
“We issued a number of penalty notices in relation to traffic offences and one man was given a summons to appear at the Ballarat Magistrates Court at a later date,” he said.
As part of the operation, a Victoria Police marked camera van was parked for extended periods in the northbound lane of Doveton Street, with a clear view down Grainery Lane.
Men wearing colours and insignia representing the Finks Motorcycle Club and its supporter groups were seen coming and going from a red-brick building in Grainery Lane during the day and into the night.
Several men bearing the club’s insignia also stood at the entrance to Grainery Lane for much of the night.
Ballarat police divisional superintendent Andrew Allen said there was no confirmation the Finks were establishing a chapter in Ballarat.
He also said it was the “first time there’s been any activity from them” in the area.
“I can confirm that a number of people who we believe to be part of the Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Club were visiting a location in Ballarat on Saturday night,” he said.
“We believe they’re from a Melbourne chapter.”
Superintendent Allen said police were aware of the visit well in advance and involved the state’s bikie-gang taskforce to assist with the high-visibility police operation.
“We received some intelligence that suggested members of the Finks might be going to visit Ballarat, so we involved Taskforce Echo,” he said.
“The use of the marked police camera van was to prevent and detect offences and it has been quite successful in the past.”
Superintendent Allen said
the Finks’ members “kept to themselves” and did not cause any trouble, but police detected other offences during the high-visibility operation.
“We issued a number of penalty notices in relation to traffic offences and one man was given a summons to appear at the Ballarat Magistrates Court at a later date,” he said.
In 2008, the South Australian government introduced anti-association laws targeting bikie gangs and in 2009 declared the Finks a criminal organisation.
Later, lawyers on behalf of the Finks successfully argued the laws were a major breach of personal liberty.
Earlier this year, Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu declared the South Australian laws “flawed”.
However, he restated his
commitment to introduce laws to outlaw criminal bikie gangs in this state.
The comments came following reports of interstate gangs moving into areas of Victoria, including Ballarat, as a result of being declared illegal in New South Wales and South Australia.
“We have been concerned about the activities of criminal bikie gangs and that’s why we committed to introduce legislation to outlaw those criminal bikie gangs in this state,” Mr Baillieu said.
Superintendent Allen said police would continue to ensure safety was paramount in Ballarat.
“We’ll continue to monitor and gather intelligence to ensure the highest levels of community safety are maintained,” he said.
Later, lawyers on behalf of the Finks successfully argued the laws were a major breach of personal liberty.
Earlier this year, Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu declared the South Australian laws “flawed”.
However, he restated his
commitment to introduce laws to outlaw criminal bikie gangs in this state.
The comments came following reports of interstate gangs moving into areas of Victoria, including Ballarat, as a result of being declared illegal in New South Wales and South Australia.
“We have been concerned about the activities of criminal bikie gangs and that’s why we committed to introduce legislation to outlaw those criminal bikie gangs in this state,” Mr Baillieu said.
Superintendent Allen said police would continue to ensure safety was paramount in Ballarat.
“We’ll continue to monitor and gather intelligence to ensure the highest levels of community safety are maintained,” he said.
In 2008, the South Australian government introduced anti-association laws targeting bikie gangs and in 2009 declared the Finks a criminal organisation.
Later, lawyers on behalf of the Finks successfully argued the laws were a major breach of personal liberty.
Earlier this year, Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu declared the South Australian laws “flawed”.
However, he restated his
commitment to introduce laws to outlaw criminal bikie gangs in this state.
The comments came following reports of interstate gangs moving into areas of Victoria, including Ballarat, as a result of being declared illegal in New South Wales and South Australia.
“We have been concerned about the activities of criminal bikie gangs and that’s why we committed to introduce legislation to outlaw those criminal bikie gangs in this state,” Mr Baillieu said.
Superintendent Allen said police would continue to ensure safety was paramount in Ballarat.
“We’ll continue to monitor and gather intelligence to ensure the highest levels of community safety are maintained,” he said.
Later, lawyers on behalf of the Finks successfully argued the laws were a major breach of personal liberty.
Earlier this year, Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu declared the South Australian laws “flawed”.
However, he restated his
commitment to introduce laws to outlaw criminal bikie gangs in this state.
The comments came following reports of interstate gangs moving into areas of Victoria, including Ballarat, as a result of being declared illegal in New South Wales and South Australia.
“We have been concerned about the activities of criminal bikie gangs and that’s why we committed to introduce legislation to outlaw those criminal bikie gangs in this state,” Mr Baillieu said.
Superintendent Allen said police would continue to ensure safety was paramount in Ballarat.
“We’ll continue to monitor and gather intelligence to ensure the highest levels of community safety are maintained,” he said.