Campbell Newman provides $20 million to rid Queensland of bikies

The streets will be flooded with police in a New York-style move to combat bikie violence, said Police Commissioner Ian Stewart, while the State Government flagged “prohibition laws” and US-style anti-racketeering legislation to hold club bosses responsible for the work of their henchmen.

READ MORE: Broadbeach brawl leads to war on bikies

EDITORIAL: Finally, Gold Coast to be cleaned up

The Commissioner said members of outlaw motorcycle gangs were on notice — police would be using all available means to “deal with” them.

“This will be high visibility policing — very similar to what they did in New York in the ’90s where they were able to flood the streets with police,” he said.

 

 

An extra 60 police officers have already been moved to the Gold Coast, where Bandidos ­bikies laid siege to the Southport Police Station on Friday night, demanding the release of their associates. Police had ­earlier arrested members of the outlaw motorcycle gang following a brawl in Broadbeach.

The State Government said police should use whatever ­resources necessary to crack down on their illegal activities.

The police helicopter is now being used to patrol the streets for motorbikes and anyone suspected of an association with an outlaw motorcycle gang will be stopped and ­questioned.

“The Government says they want these bikies dealt with and that is our plan,” Mr ­Stewart said. “We will deal with them. These people deal in fear and intimidation and that is unacceptable.”

He said any suggestion from the Bandidos that bikies “owned” the Gold Coast was untrue.

“The reality is the community owns the Gold Coast,” he said. “And the community should be able to go about their daily living without fear.”

Police Minister Jack Dempsey said he would not rest until Queensland was free of the scourge of outlaw motorcycle gangs operating predominantly on the Gold Coast but also in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and ­Rockhampton.

 

 

“We will be doing whatever it takes to bring the full force of the law to their door, to their happy times, to ensure that they no longer feel safe in their beds or in their restaurant seats or on their bikes or in their cars,” Mr Dempsey said.

“Their days are certainly numbered.

A police blitz on Saturday night resulted in 28 arrests on 46 charges but members of bikie gangs were not among those detained, said the Police Minister.

“Police have attended every outlaw motorcycle clubhouse as well as the outlaw motorcycle gang hotspots throughout the Gold Coast and in other parts of the state as well,” Mr Dempsey said.

“They can hide ... they can go to ground, but when they come up, police will still be there.”

The prohibitions laws being prepared by Mr Dempsey would give police unfettered powers to search members of illegal bikie gangs and other ­violent offenders for firearms.

“We’ll be bringing a number of issues to Cabinet (today) in relation to what we are progressing on the operational side and setting a pathway for legislation,” he said.

Even the sort of businesses typically operated by outlaw motorcycle gangs such as ­tattoo parlours, could face new legislative restrictions, Mr Dempsey said.

The Government is also awaiting the outcome of the first test of criminal association legislation, under which members of bikie gangs or other ­declared organisations can be banned from meeting.

READ MORE: Police demand Finks break code of silence

The police case against the Surfers Paradise chapter of the Finks outlaw motorcycle club has been set down for a 20-day trial in the Brisbane Supreme Court in November.

Thirty people have now been arrested over the weekend’s violence. Police expect to make further arrests.