Gang’s shock reaction to alleged hit-run of police officer

THE alleged hit-run of a young policeman in southeast Queensland last week shocked his colleagues to the core. But disturbingly, it seemingly united members of a Brisbane gang, with one even saying she “would have hit that copper too”.

Alleged members of the Southside gang.

WHEN Goodna Constable Peter McAulay was rushed to hospital with critical injuries last week, it brought youth crime and so-called kid “gangs” into the spotlight.

Officers from around the state spoke of their grief and rallied around him. Police union president Ian Leavers called for an end to the youth crime problem and for police to be given greater powers.

But in a disturbing way, the alleged crime committed by two teenagers also gave strength and unity to a group of kids and young adults from Brisbane’s south, who now call themselves the Southside Gang.

Constable Peter McAulay.

Pictures: Supplied

Police alleged the 16-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl charged with attempted murder over the Constable McAulay’s injuries have “associations” with the group.

In the days after the incident, teens as young as 13 and 14 began posting “Southside” on their Facebook pages in a show of solidarity.

More dedicated members have also tattooed the postcode 4114 — taking in Woodridge, Logan Central and Kingston — on their knuckles.

One tattooed member, who The Courier-Mail has chosen not to name because of her age, even said she “would have hit that copper too”, if she was driving an allegedly stolen car through Booval that day.

An alleged member of the Southside gang.

While the “gang” is far from what police would consider organised, Brisbane’s Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming admits they are “persistent”.

One teen estimated there were more than 100 people affiliated with the group. Their crimes include robberies, mostly of European cars, but also armed hold-ups. Members then post photos of themselves in the cars they’ve stolen on social media.

“It is a loose affiliation of younger people and they get up to no good,” Supt Fleming said.

“There’s certainly no hierarchy, there’s certainly no evidence of a structured series of criminal activities.”

Police union president Ian Leavers called for an end to the youth crime problem and for police to be given greater powers.

But Supt Fleming expressed frustration at the lack of respect for police, after learning that some members celebrated Constable McAulay’s horrific injuries.

“That has a human toll and that’s the part that really bothers me,” he said.

“When you have people who have no respect for anyone else that’s a challenge for us.

“What drives that? Is it the way they’ve been socialised. If that’s what you’ve been brought up into that’s what your norm is.”

Group members told The Courier-Mail they were brought up on the streets of the Southside and had seen the worst of police, including a lack of respect and what they called corruption. Police suspect the thrill of being caught could be motivating factors.

Gang members themselves said they stole cars “because we have to”.