Mr Vella has accused police of unfairly targeting his members and exaggerating
the bikie threat. (AAP: Dean Lewins)
Members of Australia's biggest outlaw motorcycle group claim police are driving a fear campaign aimed to shut down their club.
The Attero national police task force was established earlier this year to clamp down on illegal activity in the Rebel's bikie gaxxx.
On Wednesday they reported that more than 330 gaxxx members had been arrested, and more than 500 charges laid.
The Australian Crime Commission has confirmed the numbers are accurate, but Rebels national president Alex Vella says they have been exaggerated.
Mr Vella accused the police of unfairly targeting his members and exaggerating the bikie threat.
"For 32 years we've been doing this same thing. Lately it's been plenty police telling their own story on TV and trying to scare the public," he said.
"They been on TV for the last 3 nights now bragging about how they're going to dismantle us and it's been a sad story."
Speaking at the group's clubhouse at Bringelly in Sydney's south west, he said misinformation about the Rebels is aimed to scare the public.
"Three years they been out here targeting us. Every one of these people been pulled over some time, twice a night, coming and going. Then we got some friends of ours, they pull them over and harass them," he said.
"We try to encourage people to keep out of trouble, but the thing is the target has been very much thrown at us. Trying to turn the public against us, that's all it is."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-10/rebels-president-accuses-police-of-bikie-fear-campaign/4365086
Members of Australia's biggest outlaw motorcycle group claim police are driving a fear campaign aimed to shut down their club.
The Attero national police task force was established earlier this year to clamp down on illegal activity in the Rebel's bikie gaxxx.
On Wednesday they reported that more than 330 gaxxx members had been arrested, and more than 500 charges laid.
The Australian Crime Commission has confirmed the numbers are accurate, but Rebels national president Alex Vella says they have been exaggerated.
Mr Vella accused the police of unfairly targeting his members and exaggerating the bikie threat.
"For 32 years we've been doing this same thing. Lately it's been plenty police telling their own story on TV and trying to scare the public," he said.
"They been on TV for the last 3 nights now bragging about how they're going to dismantle us and it's been a sad story."
Speaking at the group's clubhouse at Bringelly in Sydney's south west, he said misinformation about the Rebels is aimed to scare the public.
"Three years they been out here targeting us. Every one of these people been pulled over some time, twice a night, coming and going. Then we got some friends of ours, they pull them over and harass them," he said.
"We try to encourage people to keep out of trouble, but the thing is the target has been very much thrown at us. Trying to turn the public against us, that's all it is."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-10/rebels-president-accuses-police-of-bikie-fear-campaign/4365086
