Increased police pressure on Queensland and Victorian bikies could cause an influx of young, single outlaws into NSW, based on the theory of ‘‘crime displacement’’.
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Assistant professor Dr Terry Goldsworthy, who is a former Gold Coast detective inspector now based at Bond University, said there were already reports some outlaw motorcycle gang members had relocated south.
‘‘Some have families, houses, businesses, so it’s not that easy for them to displace,’’ Dr Goldsworthy said.
‘‘The young single ones can move at the drop of a hat. There would be some that would not displace, but you’d have more transient ones that could ... if they think there is a jurisdiction that is perhaps a bit more lenient.’’
Next week, Queensland Parliament is expected to pass a raft of new anti-bikie legislation, which could mean police will be given powers to stop motorcyclists riding in groups of three or more.
The crackdown follows the arrests of several alleged Bandido members over a brawl outside a Broadbeach restaurant late last month.
Meantime, Victorian Police this week raided Hells Angels clubhouses in Melbourne, Bendigo and Ballarat, arresting a dozen alleged members and seizing drugs, guns and ammunition.
NSW Police said the organisation worked closely with other Australian police forces to tackle outlaw motorcycle gang-related crime.
‘‘A number of these gangs have Australia-wide arrangements, meaning their criminal activities often cross state borders,’’ police said.
‘‘In March 2009, the NSW Police Force formed Strike Force Raptor to target OMCG-related crime and, over the last four and a half years, Raptor has made some monumental inroads in the fight against bikie gangs.’’
In March this year, 350 officers conducted raids across the Illawarra and Sydney, targeting the Hells Angels, Comancheros and Rebels, as well as Asian and Balkan crime gangs. Drugs, weapons and about $500,000 cash were seized and 19 people were arrested.
Since its inception, SF Raptor has made 2282 arrests and laid 5197 charges. A total of 571 firearms have been seized, including 193 handguns and 15 military-style automatic weapons, as well as 34,000 rounds of ammunition.
There have been 551 separate drug seizures totalling: 55.8kg of cannabis; 14.2kg of amphetamine-type substances; 34 litres, 842g and more than 17,000 tablets of steroids.
