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Insiders tip off bikies
EXCLUSIVE
By TREVOR PADDENBURG
11sep05
OUTLAW motorcycle gangs in WA have set up a network of high- ranking
"friendlies" in government agencies and WA police.
They are doing covert surveillance to keep tabs on WA's Organised Crime Squad
and, in a direct threat to the police, they have put together detailed dossiers
on the detectives responsible for bikie arrests.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Det-Insp Rick Scupham, who oversees WA's
organised crime and gang crime squads, said police had confirmed the identities
of several "friendlies", including government department insiders who had tipped
off bikies on police investigations.
"We have identified people in organisations, including government organisations,
who are willing to assist recognised bikie gang members with information,"
Det-Insp Scupham said. "They are cultivating friendlies in strategic areas."
He said he wouldn't be surprised if this included the police service.
Liquor licensing was an example of a department that could be of interest to the
outlaw gangs.
Police said the activities proved WA's bikie gangs were morphing into
sophisticated organised crime outfits, using the latest technology to stay one
step ahead of the law.
But it was difficult to arrest or charge the double agents because of a lack of
evidence.
"A lot of the time you can't prove what's said," Det-Insp Scupham said.
Bikies had also gathered surveillance and put together a detailed database on
police.
"They employ as many tactics against us as we employ against them, including
intelligence gathering, surveillance and possible infiltration," Det-Insp
Scupham said.
WA chapters of the Coffin Cheaters and the Gypsy Jokers were at the forefront of
the anti-police tactics.
Supt Fred Gere, a leading expert on national and international bikie trends,
said the tactics were a major shift from traditional bikie culture, and outlaw
motorcycle gangs had become the mafia of the 21st century.
Originally, all outlaw gangs were white supremacists, but for "business" reasons
they had shed that tag.
"Now they form liaisons with Asian crime gangs and mafia-type groups and it
would not be good for business to be seen as racist," he said.
