NSW Police Strike Force Raptor among best in world
Strike Force Raptor have been so successful in disrupting and arresting outlaw motorcycle gang members, the world’s best police officers are taking notice, writes Crime Editor Mark Morri.
NSW
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The world’s leading cops have acknowledge what Sydney bikies learnt the hard way — Strike Force Raptor rules supreme when it comes to busting, disrupting and arresting Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs members.
Raptor received the Enforcement Award from the International Outlaw Investigators Association at major conference in Spokane Washington last month for its efforts in smashing the gangs over the past few years.
“After the conference I received calls from all over the world asking about Raptor because it is unique in the way it targets bikie gangs,” said Detective Superintendent Deb Wallace, commander of the Criminal Groups Squad.
“It is terrific for the Strike Force members to be recognised for all the work and dedication they have put in,” she said.
Raptor has broken the back of the bikie gangs in Sydney to the point where many of bikie bosses have fled overseas to run their drug operations because of the constant harassment by the squad.
“It is in your face policing and we will use any legislation to disrupt their businesses and close their club houses,' said Superintendent Wallace.
The specialised unit formed ten years ago after the infamous Sydney Airport brawl between Hells Angels and Comancheros which left one person dead is the only dedicated bikie squad in the world.
“There doesn’t appear to be any other dedicated bikie gang squad which operates the way Raptor does,” Det Supt Wallace said.
Many bikie gangs now are global businesses and during the conference, law enforcement agencies from around the world shared intelligence on who was who in the bikie world.
“Strike Force Raptor and staff received the Enforcement Award, recognising the significant impact this initiative has made on the Australian, and global OMCG landscape. Individual staff members were recognised for the significant contribution they have made, and continue to make, to the success of Raptor,” the Association said.
The Raptor guru of bikie culture, NSW Detective Sergeant Bruce Groenewegan, was the recipient of the individual President’s Award for Exceptional Law Enforcement Efforts at combating Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs.
He is often called as an expert witness in court cases about the workings of the gangs, their hierarchy and their rules, much of which is heard via camera as it is considered vital police intelligence with the cops not wanting the bikies to know what they know about them.
One Hells Angel complained to me once, saying he was pulled over six times in one day. It was well known he had access to weapons and at the time was warring with the Comanchero gang.
It's because of Raptor and these tactics that you no longer see large gangs of oversized wannabe gangsters roaming the streets in their beloved ‘colours’.
They know the minute they put on a bikie jacket they are likely to be pulled over, searched and questioned by a Raptor operative.
Raptor have been so successful in its war on Outlaw Motor Cycle Gangs its no wonder the rest for the world want to copy their tactics.
Originally published as NSW Police Strike Force Raptor among best in world