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Bikie patch ban mooted
By PAUL LAMPATHAKIS
13mar05
POLICE Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan wants laws toughened to crack down further
on outlaw bikie gangs.
The police legal services team is reviewing legislation, including that
affecting bikies.
Mr O'Callaghan will take his proposals to Police Minister Michelle Roberts
within weeks, a spokesman said this week.
South-West district Supt Ron Randall wants the reforms to include a ban on
bikies wearing their colours in public.
And they should be stopped from riding in groups bigger than four when moving
between towns, he said.
"Then there wouldn't be a large group congregating in any one town until they
get to their destination," he said.
"Certainly, in the past when they have moved in large numbers, they have engaged
in unlawful activities."
Supt Randall said he was not criticising existing legislation, nor did he think
he had all the answers.
"All I'm saying is that the environment may now be conducive to some debate on
this issue, whether or not there is a need for reforms and separate legislation,
and whether or not this is viable," he said.
Reforms that might result from such debate would benefit the community because
police resources now used to deal with bikies could be used elsewhere, he said.
Premier Geoff Gallop said he had not been approached recently by police about
bikie laws.
"However, my Government always has and will continue to listen to what the
police service says to us on these and other matters," he said.
"And we are both constantly looking for ways to thwart the activities of outlaw
motorcycle gangs.
"We have already done that, which is why we now have, here in WA, the toughest
legislation in the country regarding outlaw motorcycle gangs."
He said commitments to strengthen the regulation and control of the security
industry, and to allow police to ban certain people from licensed premises,
would help target gangs.
