Police told of bikies’ gathering at Thunderwest Bike Show in the Hunter
An organiser of a NSW festival attended by hundreds of bikers — including some from outlaw gangs — says his club let police know beforehand that the party was happening.
NSW
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An organiser of a country NSW festival that hundreds of bikers attended — including some from outlaw gangs — says his club let police know beforehand that the party was happening.
Veterans Motorcycle Club NSW chapter secretary Andrew “Fozzy” Briant, 59, told The Daily Telegraph his club owns the land in Murrurundi in the Hunter Valley where the colourful Thunderwest Bike Show was held last month.
Mr Briant, a veteran who served in Afghanistan, said the day was about raising awareness of veterans’ issues, and donating money back to the local community.
Although the majority of attendees were veterans and from social biker clubs, some were bikies from outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs) such as the Finks, Bandidos and Nomads.
There are no specific laws that prohibit OMCG members from wearing colours in public in NSW.
Consorting laws are one measure used to disrupt OMCGs. Police also use serious crime prevention orders, public safety orders and other compliance-based measures on members of these groups.
But Mr Briant, who is not an OMCG member, said Thunderwest was neutral territory and that everybody gets along.
“We advertise it to the police, there’s a local police authority we advertised it to and we let them know it’s on, they know what it’s all about and understand we’re just getting together and having a good time,” he said.
Mr Briant said the event had to be approved by the local council, and organisers also gave information to a local liquor licensing sergeant for approval.
However, Mr Briant said NSW Police did not officially green-light the event.
“I wouldn’t say they give us the green light to do it, I would say they monitor us fairly closely,” he said.
He said even local schools and the Lions Club got involved to raise money.
Eldo, vice-president of the Veterans Motorcycle Club’s NSW chapter, who is also not an OMCG member, said the event was not “swamped” by outlaw bikie gangs, but they were invited.
“Everyone was there to show mutual respect for the motorcycle club, people rode in colours on club-sanctioned runs,” he said.
“It’s no one’s business how much money we raised or how many beers we sold, it’s for the club. It’s a really fun event.”
A NSW Police spokesman said the force targeted OMCG members.
“Raptor Squad continue to proactively target and dismantle the activities of criminal networks — including OMCGs — operating within regional areas of NSW,” he said.
“OMCGs pose a risk to the public, and any members of these groups can expect constant attention from police.”
STRIKEFORCE RAPTOR: THE COPS WHO CRUSHED THE BIKIES
Strikeforce Raptor was formed in 2009 after a brawl between the Hells Angels and the Commenchero exploded at Sydney airport leaving one person dead.
It operated under the command of the State Crime Criminal Groups Squad with the sole purpose of disrupting criminal activity of Outlaw Motor Cycle gangs.
It earnt a fearsome reputation as a bikie busting unit and in 2021 was designated as a stand alone squad and expanded its targets to include major criminal gangs.
The squad has evolved from playing the role of being the NSW Police Forces “enforcer” squad to also gathering intelligence and is now heavily involved in the investigation and suppression of Sydney’s gangland war involving the Alamaddine and Hamze crime families.
PART ONE: The cops who crushed the bikies
PART TWO: Inside the real-life police fight club
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