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Outlaw bikie gangs to form council

  • Fat-Boy
    Fat-Boy
    16 years ago

    Outlaw bikie gangs are putting aside their rivalries to form a lobby group aimed at ending the cycle of violence, and blocking moves to declare them criminal organisations.

    Senior club members on Sunday will meet for peace talks at a Rebels clubhouse at Leppington, in southwestern Sydney, where they plan to launch the NSW Bikers Council.

    The news has been cautiously welcomed by NSW Police, who say they approve of any attempts to end the recent spate of bikie-related violence.

    News of the council follows months of tension between bikie gangs that boiled over into a March 22 brawl at Sydney airport that left one man dead.

    Police have cracked down on gangs since the fatal fight between Hells Angels and Comancheros members, with more than 50 outlaw motorcycle gang members arrested since the formation of Strike Force Raptor.

    The NSW government also has passed tough new laws this month, allows the NSW Supreme Court to declare bikie gangs criminal organisations.

    The new bikie council will receive legal representation from Sydney QC Geoffrey Nicholson, who said it aimed to reassure the public, and take on the government over the new laws.

    The majority of Sydney's clubs would be represented at Sunday's meeting, he said.

    "Its purpose is, in part, to reassure the public as to the reason for its existence and to bring some objectivity into the picture and to also comment upon the biker legislation the state government has passed," he told AAP.

    Police tentatively welcomed the peace talks, with the head of the Gang Squad, Mal Lanyon, saying they encouraged "any talks that increase public safety and reduce violence".

    Police will monitor Sunday's meeting, but Detective Superintendent Lanyon stressed that did not mean violence was expected.

    "There has been an escalation of violence in recent times, there have been incidents of drive-by shootings and incidents such as (the fatal brawl at) Sydney airport," he said.

    "We think it is important to ensure that these types of meetings do not deteriorate into violence and accordingly we will monitor them."

    Bond University criminologist, Professor Paul Wilson, said the peace talks and the formation of the council should be supported by police.

    "These are positive moves, and police and other authorities should be trying to ensure they are allowed to develop and work," Prof Wilson said.

    "It's a very healthy sign and maybe one of the positive aspects which has come out of the recent concern about bikie gangs."

    But NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos dismissed the council as nothing more than a publicity stunt, and said the government would continue its tough stance against the gangs.

    "We certainly have no interest in negotiating those terms with any groups that are involved in anyway in criminal behaviour," he said.

    "I'm not interested in PR stunts or reassuring words given on behalf of persons who are involved in behaviour which causes significant community concern."

    NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell said formation of the NSW Bikers Council was proof bikies were scared of the laws.

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  • Hoodaman
    Hoodaman
    16 years ago
    i hope the fuzz leaves em alone this time..............
  • andij
    andij
    16 years ago
    we will be all ridin with lawyers .
  • Firey
    Firey
    16 years ago

    NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell said formation of the NSW Bikers Council was proof bikies were scared of the laws         yer good one ( even if you get a rat in a corner - he will fight for his life)

  • twincam88b
    twincam88b
    16 years ago
    The Government and opposition should be ashamed of themselves. If the bikie clubs are getting together and sorting out the bad eggs from the groups, it can only be a good thing. All the Government is doing is inciting more trouble, by the comments they make. They should be pleased that the majority of them want things to settle down with each other and the community. They are doing the same thing in South Australia, keeping the agrivation alive to suit the political agenda.

    I usually look at the Australian newspaper website each day and when you scroll down to the bottom of the page to the various state newspapers the 2 states that usually have a bikie story in their line up is the Adelaide Now(SA) and the Daily Telegraph(NSW) websites. Both state papers that are blowing the governments tune. Funny that......what a coincidence.