Rebels bikie boss Alex Vella shared a list of rules civilians must follow to not disrespect the club
THE strict code that governs bikie gangs extends past members, with every day citizens also required to live by a code of conduct when dealing with the underworld organisations. Breaking these rules is considered a big no, no.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
IF A patched member of an outlaw bikie gang breaks one of the many rules enforced by the club, they could find themselves on the receiving end of justice from their own.
But the strict rules that govern bikies extend past members of the club, with civilians also required to live by a code of conduct when dealing with the underworld organisations.
Former national president of Rebels MC Alex Vella — who has been living in exile since his visa was cancelled by Immigration Minister Scott Morrison in 2014 on the grounds he was of bad character — recently shared the rules supporters of the bikie club must adhere to.
MORE: CELEBRITY BIKIE LINK TO ROLEX RACKET IN BONDI
MORE: RAPTOR EXPANDS TO WOLLONGONG AND NEWCASTLE
Posting in the Rebels MC Australia Facebook group, Vella said these guidelines have been in place for decades and stressed the need for people to understand and follow them.
“[To not follow these rules] is considered a sign of disrespect by the Rebels MC and you will find yourself not welcome as it would appear you’re trying to pose as a member,” he wrote.
RULES SUPPORTERS OF REBELS NEED TO FOLLOW
• Never post or possess images of the “death head” and flag
• Never use the words “RFFR”, “Rebels MC” or “RMC” in any form including text or on pictures — especially not after your name.
• Never post or share pictures of Rebels or their private photos without their permission.
• Never use any term related to the Rebels MC that would cause a person to think you’re trying to pose as a member.
WHAT RULES DO THE BIKIES HAVE TO FOLLOW?
Even though bikies are forced to live using a code of silence, keeping things tight-lipped isn’t always the easiest task, with law enforcement continuously gathering information.
After decades of intercepted phone calls, police interviews, intel learned from hundreds of search warrants and details divulged from informants, police have been able to develop a 400 page dossier claiming to detail the secret inner workings of our bikie gangs.
BLOOD IN, BLOOD OUT
Bikies wearing a three piece patch — the top and bottom rockers, and club logo — are known as full members.
Those wanting to join the club first start as a “nominee” and are required to go through a series of tests to prove loyalty to the gang.
MORE: REBELS MEMBER’S TRIBUTE TO FALLEN BIKIE BROTHER
MORE: HEARING FOR MURDER OF EX COMANCHERO BIKIE
While nominees can wear a portion of the three piece patch, they will not get their full patch until they receive support from a strong majority of club members.
The clubs usually require people to be nominees for 24 months before they have “earned” the “exclusivity and entitlement” the full patch offers.
“The patch carried an implied message of power … (it) also implies a threat of violence,” the dossier explained.
Becoming a full patch member is a lifelong commitment to the gang, with penalties in place for those who leave the club.
“There is a cost to leaving the gang that can range from surrendering your bike, paying $10,000, handing in your colours and even to the point of getting your tattoos removed,” a police source told The Daily Telegraph.
In 2015, a Rebels bikie shot dead the gang’s sergeant-at-arms at a Picton service station before turning the gun on himself — an attack that was believed to have been over one of the men wanting to leave the gang.
“It could be one or the other didn’t want to pay or it might have been a personal gripe that got out of hand. It’s hard to know, and especially with both of them dead,” a source said.
CODE OF SILENCE
Bikies operate under a code of silence, with never speaking to the police one of the most fundamental rules for members of gangs.
By remaining tight-lipped, many assaults, shootings and murders that may be attributed to outlaw bikie clubs remain unsolved.
This code to resolve their disputes without involving police saw former Gypsy Jokers president Lennard Kirby ordering doctors to not remove bullets from his body after he was shot in what police say was a gunfight over drugs in 2009.
Assistant Police Commissioner Wayne Gregson said even though it would help with the investigation, he could not force the victim to remove the bullets.
“We can’t take warrants out where the warrants require invasive surgery; we can’t do that at law,” Mr Gregson told Fairfax Radio at the time.
In March this year, Victorian Supreme Court Justice Peter Riordan jailed Comanchero outlaw bikie boss Michael Murray for eight months for contempt, saying his refusal to be sworn and co-operate with authorities was “deliberate and flagrant”.
“Mate, this is very, very simple. I’m not a dog. I’m not answering questions. I’m not lagging anyone,” Murray told Victorian authorities. “You’re wasting your time.”
Justice Riordan said his refusal was not based on fear of retribution, but a desire to maintain the code of silence.
GETTING INKED UP
It’s not uncommon for members of bikie clubs to be heavily tattooed, but there are strict rules governing what club related ink they can get on their body.
For example, members of The Finks cannot get any type of bikie tattoo until they have been a member for at least one year and can only get a “small” club tattoo after five years.
And full back tattoos depicting Finks colours are strictly reserved for life members of the club who have served a minimum of 10 years.
“The limitations placed on who is allowed to acquire and display a ‘Finks’ tattoo again reinforces the attitudes of ‘exclusivity’ of membership,” the police dossier explained.
The penalties in place for those exiting the club also extend to tattoos, with most gang members required to have their tattoos removed if they leave.
In December last year, a former Finks bikie was beaten, burnt, stabbed and sexually assaulted in a Sydney hotel in an ordeal lasting 12 hours.
Detective Superintendent Deb Wallace said police alleged during the attack, the victim had boiling water poured over his upper body to remove his club tattoo because he was either planning to leave or being kicked out of the gang.
“When you leave a club on bad standing, or in good standing, you must remove all identifiers that you have been a member of that outlaw motorcycle gang,” she told reporters. “If you don’t remove it they will remove it by force.”
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION
► CHAPTER ONE: Inside the squad that beat Sydney’s gangs
► CHAPTER TWO: The real-life police fight club
