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