It's war on bikies: Police aim to break outlaw gangs
By TREVOR PADDENBURG
26mar06
OUTLAW motorcycle gangs are one of the biggest threats to law and
order in the state – and police want to eradicate them.
WA organised-crime boss Det-Insp Rick Scupham even accused bikie
gangs of using toy runs and charity rides as a "front" for
significant organised-crime operations behind the scenes.
Det-Insp Scupham said bikies were self-confessed criminals who
belonged behind bars.
"Our intention is to dismantle these outlaw motorcycle gangs," he
said.
His tough talk came as Gang Crime Squad detectives and The Sunday
Times tailed about 30 Rebels bikie gang members who left Perth on
Thursday for their national conference in Sydney.
Police set up a roadblock in Coolgardie on Friday morning, doing
licence checks and searches, but the bikies were well behaved and no
charges were laid.
"It's not an escort – we're monitoring them. If we don't, they go
straight through red lights and do whatever they want," one
detective said.
Det-Insp Scupham said bikies played a major role in the drug,
prostitution and weapons trades, were often involved in rape and
assault investigations, refused to co-operate with police, and
intimidated witnesses and juries.
"They deliberately label themselves as the 1 per cent that are above
the law," he said.
"It's an ambitious target, but we would certainly like to dismantle
them and we are aiming at that."
WA Police are already making inroads, with the leaders of four
outlaw gangs serving jail sentences or awaiting trial.
Club Deroes president Phillip William Rowles, 52, was remanded in
custody and had $1.25 million in assets frozen after police
allegedly found amphetamines and ammunition in a raid on his home.
Also behind bars are former WA Rebels president Richard John Roberts
and former Gypsy Jokers leader Len Kirby, both for drug-related
crimes.
Senior Coffin Cheater Troy Mercanti is awaiting trial after an
incident of gangland violence at the Metro City nightclub.
Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said outlaw motorcycle gangs
would remain a major target on the police radar.
"When you disrupt them, when you take the heads and put them in
prison, that has a serious impact on their operations," Mr
O'Callaghan said.
"Our focus is to keep the pressure on these people and to charge
them and disrupt their activities by whatever means."
The Coffin Cheaters' Motorcycle Club of Australia website says
members are dedicated to motorcycles and brotherhood, but have no
criminal links.
"Believe the propaganda if you will . . . we are no organised crime
gang. These are beefed-up stories by local law enforcement," the
website states.
Last year, The Sunday Times revealed WA bikies and their associates
had tried to infiltrate the police and had links to insiders in
government departments.
They had also done surveillance on police and their families and had
dossiers on some detectives