OFF THE WIRE
TARGET PRACTICE: How our iPad reported the Rebels bikies ploy to identify themselves at the Danny Green fight. Source: PerthNow
BIKIES will be banned from wearing any clothing that bears words or symbols depicting their gangs after an 11th-hour liquor licence change for tonight's Danny Green bout.
The Department of Racing, Gaming and Liquor today moved to amend the licence for Challenge Stadium after PerthNow revealed on its iPad last night that Rebels bikies had come up with a unique way to avoid laws banning them from wearing club colours or insignias at the fight.
Rebels bikies said they intended to wear T-shirts emblazoned with "Rebels MC'' purchased from Target department stores in a bid to escape scrutiny.
But today, police from the Licensing Enforcement Division requested an added licence condition to ban "any clothing bearing the name of any outlaw motorcycle gang''.
The change comes in addition to existing laws that outlaw bikie club patches or insignia on jackets, clothing, accessories and visible body markings, such as tattoos.
Police warned yesterday that bikie gang members would be refused entry to the bout if they donned club colours or insignias, as part of a massive security crackdown.
A contingent of police, including the Gang Crime Squad, uniformed officers and tactical response teams, will man the event which will see Green take on Krzysztof "Diablo'' Wlodarczyk at 7.15pm.
The strong police presence comes amid expectations there will be a hefty showing of Rebels, Comancheros and Coffin Cheaters at the fight.
Gang Crime Detective Inspector Jeff Christmass said officers would be out in force at the venue and expected bikies to attend "as usual''.
Det-Insp Christmass said bikie members were not permitted to wear their "club colours'' or insignias inside the venue, but PerthNow understands that Rebels members want to wear the Target T-shirts.
In 2007, police fined 11 members of the Rebels bikie gang for failing to leave boxer Green's world title fight in Perth.
The Rebels were fined $200 each for being in breach of liquor licensing conditions by wearing clothes identifying them as part of an outlaw motorcycle gang at the event.
At the time, police said the venue licensee had requested all 11 Rebels leave but, when they refused, police issued fines.
Last November Gypsy Joker Graeme Slater, who was acquitted of the murder of former police chief Don Hancock, was arrested before a Green fight at Challenge Stadium, accused of disorderly conduct for repeatedly swearing at police.
Det-Insp Christmass said police did not intend to screen patrons for weapons and security arrangements were a decision for the venue operators.
VenuesWest chief executive David Etherton said high-level security would be in place at Challenge Stadium tonight, saying every patron would be scanned for weapons before entering the event.
"There will be 73 security guards at the venue as well as the usual significant police attendance,'' he said.
"Patrons entering through all entry doors will be scanned as they have been in the past.''
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/danny-green-fight-venue-fights-back-against-cheeky-bikie-ploy/story-e6frg14c-1226210604025
The strong police presence comes amid expectations there will be a hefty showing of Rebels, Comancheros and Coffin Cheaters at the fight.
Gang Crime Detective Inspector Jeff Christmass said officers would be out in force at the venue and expected bikies to attend "as usual''.
Det-Insp Christmass said bikie members were not permitted to wear their "club colours'' or insignias inside the venue, but PerthNow understands that Rebels members want to wear the Target T-shirts.
In 2007, police fined 11 members of the Rebels bikie gang for failing to leave boxer Green's world title fight in Perth.
The Rebels were fined $200 each for being in breach of liquor licensing conditions by wearing clothes identifying them as part of an outlaw motorcycle gang at the event.
At the time, police said the venue licensee had requested all 11 Rebels leave but, when they refused, police issued fines.
Last November Gypsy Joker Graeme Slater, who was acquitted of the murder of former police chief Don Hancock, was arrested before a Green fight at Challenge Stadium, accused of disorderly conduct for repeatedly swearing at police.
Det-Insp Christmass said police did not intend to screen patrons for weapons and security arrangements were a decision for the venue operators.
VenuesWest chief executive David Etherton said high-level security would be in place at Challenge Stadium tonight, saying every patron would be scanned for weapons before entering the event.
"There will be 73 security guards at the venue as well as the usual significant police attendance,'' he said.
"Patrons entering through all entry doors will be scanned as they have been in the past.''
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/danny-green-fight-venue-fights-back-against-cheeky-bikie-ploy/story-e6frg14c-1226210604025
