Intelligence agency warns bikie gangs against Tasmanian invasion

OUTLAW motorcycle gangs operating in Tasmania or looking to move here have been issued with a warning.

Bandidos' motorcycle riders arriving in Burnie last year.

OUTLAW motorcycle gangs operating in Tasmania or looking to move here have been warned: the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission is watching you and will disrupt your activities.

Commission chief executive Michael Phelan has been to Tasmania to brief Members of Parliament on what he says is a growing threat to the Tasmanian community.

Police Minister Michael Ferguson said yesterday it was important the state pushed through tough new laws so Tasmania was not seen as a “soft target” by outlaw gangs.

“We will legislate to prohibit the display of insignia that promotes criminal associations and causes fear in the community by banning their public display and also prohibiting those who are guilty of serious crime from associating with each other,” Mr Ferguson said.

“Until we do this, Tasmania is a soft target for criminals given other states have already implemented this legislation.

Public submissions to the Government’s position paper have closed and are expected to be made public by May 18.

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Mr Phelan said the Criminal Intelligence Commission would use its “full arsenal of capabilities” to detect and disrupt bikies’ criminal activities.

“Gangs that are well entrenched on the mainland are viewing Tasmania as an attractive location for expansion,” he said.

There are 40 outlaw motorcycle gangs in Australia operating across 440 chapters with around 4400 patched members, 700 prospects and thousands of associates.

The Bandidos, Black Uhlans, Devil’s Henchman, Outlaws and Rebels all have chapters in Tasmania and police say there are 269 gang members in the state.

The Rebels and Bandidos held their national rides and gatherings in Tasmania last year.

While in Burnie, Bandidos national liaison officer Grey Norman said it was “no secret” the club was expanding its presence in Tasmania but he said the community had nothing to fear.

“The propaganda and hysteria about so-called outlaw motorcycle clubs is stirred up on a regular basis but it does not reflect the truth,” Mr Norman said.

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But Mr Phelan said it was concerning that some people saw outlaw motorcycle gangs as harmless.

“They are not,” he said. “They claim to be about brotherhood and parade through our cities on national runs to build community support but they are not building our communities, they are putting them at risk.”

Tasmania is part of National Taskforce Morpheus — a joint law enforcement initiative under which intelligence is shared to investigate tax and welfare payments, travel movements and generally make it harder for criminals to operate.

“We know that OMCGs are involved in illicit drug manufacture and supply,” Mr Phelan said.