AUSTRALIA - New laws to crack down on bikie defences..

OFF THE WIRE
Police will be able to destroy fortifications used to conceal criminal activity in gxxg properties under a state government crackdown on outlaw motorcycle groups.
Deputy Commissioner Graham Ashton said police had already identified the club houses of six outlaw motorcycle gxxgs, with the feuding Bandidos and Hells Angels at the top of the list.
Under proposed new laws, which will be introduced into state parliament today, police can apply to the Magistrates' Court to have fortifications such as night-vision cameras and reinforced walls removed from gxxg property.
Mr Ashton said the laws would help police keep their "foot on the throat of organised crime groups".
"It will provide another important piece in our arsenal against organised crime," he said, adding it would complement anti-association laws activated last month which can ban bikie members from associating with each other.
Importantly, Mr Ashton said the new laws would ensure police swift entry into club houses when executing search warrants.
"We do have the powers to do search warrants at the moment and when we do that we get access to the premises. But quite often that delayed access does create a barrier which we believe can allow evidence to be destroyed."
He said he hoped removing fortifications would also make the community feel less intimidated from bikies and curb the threats between feuding gxxgs, as they would no longer be protected in their bunker-like club houses.
Premier Denis Napthine said criminal bikie gxxgs would have nowhere to run or hide.
"This is a very real crackdown on criminal organisations and criminal bikie gxxgs in this state."
Attorney-General Robert Clark said criminal bikie groups were using fortified properties to frustrate and delay police from lawfully entering a property, while evidence was destroyed.
He said he was confident the laws would withstand any High Court challenges by bikie gxxgs.
The Magistrates' Court will be able to order the removal of any structure of device that could hinder uninvited entry beyond what is necessary to provide security for the ordinary use of the premises.
Fortified structures include physical barriers and electronic surveillance devices such as night-vision cameras and motion sensors.
Superintendent Peter Da Santo said since March 6 police had raided 29 outlaw motorcycle gxxg club houses and arrested 15 men.
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/new-laws-to-crack-down-on-bikie-defences-20130417-2hzfq.html