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Bikies, Santa stretch police
NIGEL HUNT
October 29, 2006 12:15am

THREE outlaw motorcycle gangs – and Father Christmas – have combined to create the biggest security headache of the year for police.

Extra police have been rostered for Saturday for a major operation to monitor the Gypsy Jokers, Hells Angels and Finks as they stage separate "runs" in the city and the South-East at the same time as 300,000 people attend the Christmas Pageant.
All available members of SAPOL's specialist Avatar unit are involved in the bikie operation, as well as dozens of STAR Group, uniformed and CIB officers from city and country stations.

While declining to disclose operational details, senior police said "sufficient" resources would be available to deal with any incident.

"We are expecting an incident-free day, but there will be enough police available to handle any incident should it arise, either in the South-East or with the other two runs," Avatar's officer-in-charge, Det-Supt Deane Paynter, said.

Police expect the major problem in the city to be traffic-related because of the size of the Hells Angels run, which is likely to comprise several hundred riders.

"Close attention will be paid to the groups to protect everyone, including motorists and the bikies themselves," Supt Paynter said.

The Gypsy Jokers' run to Mt Gambier is expected to attract the most police attention following incidents in previous years, including a wild brawl at Beachport in 2001 in which three police were injured.

Interstate gang members are also converging on Mt Gambier.

Police have already taken action to curtail their activities, with a successful application opposing the granting of a liquor licence for the Gypsy Jokers' Commercial St clubrooms to coincide with the event.

On Monday, Assistant Liquor and Gambling Commissioner Michael Jarvis refused the request because he was not satisfied the applicants were "fit and proper persons to obtain the licence".

On previous runs, police have conducted roadside checks which included random breath-testing, warrant checks and motorcycle inspections.

The exact route of the Hells Angels "King of Clubs" poker run is not known, but it is expected to visit several hotels in near-country areas. Last year, it attracted 400 riders.

The Finks' memorial run will visit hotels in the western suburbs with several dozen members expected to take part.

Police are not expecting the Finks and Hells Angels to cross paths.

Tensions between the two clubs have eased following a brawl between gang members at a Gold Coast kickboxing tournament earlier this year.

Queensland police have charged five Adelaide-based Hells Angels with a variety of offences in connection with the brawl.

Adelaide commander Supt Paul Schramm said resources used in the pageant operation would reflect the size of the "family-based" crowd.

"It draws one of the largest crowds on the calendar in Adelaide and we resource it accordingly," he said.

Extra police have been seconded from other local service areas and police cadets will also be used in some roles.


http://www.news.com.au:80/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,20662155-2682,00.html


 

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