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Police claims bikie violence eliminated at odds with their website Police claims bikie violence eliminated at odds with their website
(6 months later)
The Queensland police service’s records shoot holes in its claim that controversial gang laws have eliminated public displays of bikie violence, a key critic of the laws has told a government review.The Queensland police service’s records shoot holes in its claim that controversial gang laws have eliminated public displays of bikie violence, a key critic of the laws has told a government review.
The police service has cited a series of alleged murders, drive-by shootings, arsons, bashings and mass brawls involving bikies in Queensland before the laws were introduced in 2013, saying it was “not aware of any acts of violence of this nature” since.The police service has cited a series of alleged murders, drive-by shootings, arsons, bashings and mass brawls involving bikies in Queensland before the laws were introduced in 2013, saying it was “not aware of any acts of violence of this nature” since.
Related: Queensland taskforce told bikie laws will never secure a conviction
Its submission to the Wilson taskforce into organised crime also detailed allegations of bikie violence, from murders to pub bashings, in New South Wales and Victoria, saying “other jurisdictions that do not have the benefit of legislation similar to Queensland continue to experience this type of violent activity”.Its submission to the Wilson taskforce into organised crime also detailed allegations of bikie violence, from murders to pub bashings, in New South Wales and Victoria, saying “other jurisdictions that do not have the benefit of legislation similar to Queensland continue to experience this type of violent activity”.
But the detective turned criminologist Terry Goldsworthy, in a new submission to the review, says a “cursory search” of the Queensland police website and its press releases report 16 violent incidents involving alleged bikies in Queensland under the laws.But the detective turned criminologist Terry Goldsworthy, in a new submission to the review, says a “cursory search” of the Queensland police website and its press releases report 16 violent incidents involving alleged bikies in Queensland under the laws.
These include allegations of an assault on two women involving a stun gun, the kidnap of a man at gunpoint and an off-duty police officer being threatened after an assault involving two Bandidos at a Brisbane hospital.These include allegations of an assault on two women involving a stun gun, the kidnap of a man at gunpoint and an off-duty police officer being threatened after an assault involving two Bandidos at a Brisbane hospital.
There were also reports relating to an alleged home invasion involving Bandidos associates who “Tasered” their victims; allegations of bashings of hotel bouncers; an alleged glassing in a Broadbeach nightclub; arson and the alleged assault of a man who was threatened over the takeover of a drug business on the Atherton Tablelands.There were also reports relating to an alleged home invasion involving Bandidos associates who “Tasered” their victims; allegations of bashings of hotel bouncers; an alleged glassing in a Broadbeach nightclub; arson and the alleged assault of a man who was threatened over the takeover of a drug business on the Atherton Tablelands.
“The incidents described would not seem to differ in nature to the incidents listed by the QPS as occurring in Victoria and NSW and being examples of ineffective policing responses to [alleged outlaw motorcycle gang] activity,” Goldsworthy says.“The incidents described would not seem to differ in nature to the incidents listed by the QPS as occurring in Victoria and NSW and being examples of ineffective policing responses to [alleged outlaw motorcycle gang] activity,” Goldsworthy says.
Related: Queensland bikie laws review to be led by prominent former judge Alan Wilson
Hence the claim that laws such as the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act (VLAD) “have stopped acts of violence such as these would be doubtful as to its veracity”, he says.Hence the claim that laws such as the Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act (VLAD) “have stopped acts of violence such as these would be doubtful as to its veracity”, he says.
“It also raises the question as to how the QPS could be not aware of these incidents given I accessed this information from their own website and their own media releases.”“It also raises the question as to how the QPS could be not aware of these incidents given I accessed this information from their own website and their own media releases.”
The review, chaired by the former supreme court judge Alan Wilson, is due to hand its report on the laws to the Palaszczuk government on 31 March. The government has flagged “replacing and repealing” the laws, introduced by the Newman government in November 2013 over the protests of civil libertarians and many in the legal community concerned about their overreach.The review, chaired by the former supreme court judge Alan Wilson, is due to hand its report on the laws to the Palaszczuk government on 31 March. The government has flagged “replacing and repealing” the laws, introduced by the Newman government in November 2013 over the protests of civil libertarians and many in the legal community concerned about their overreach.
Goldsworthy’s submission is the latest in a series of exchanges between the former investigator and the QPS contesting the effect of the laws on crime statistics and police efforts to tackle bikie crime.Goldsworthy’s submission is the latest in a series of exchanges between the former investigator and the QPS contesting the effect of the laws on crime statistics and police efforts to tackle bikie crime.
The Wilson review has taken an interest in their exchanges, pressing both Goldsworthy and the QPS to respond to each other’s claims.The Wilson review has taken an interest in their exchanges, pressing both Goldsworthy and the QPS to respond to each other’s claims.
The key planks of the Queensland gang laws include VLAD, which mandates up to 25 years’ extra punishment for bikies convicted of crimes in the aid of their clubs.The key planks of the Queensland gang laws include VLAD, which mandates up to 25 years’ extra punishment for bikies convicted of crimes in the aid of their clubs.
There is also the anti-association laws, which mandate up to three years’ jail for club “participants” who publicly gather in groups of three or more, go to clubhouses or recruit members.There is also the anti-association laws, which mandate up to three years’ jail for club “participants” who publicly gather in groups of three or more, go to clubhouses or recruit members.
But police argue the laws help them deal with crimes involving gangs such as the Hells Angels, Bandidos and Rebels, which they say are sophisticated criminal organisations with global links, a major role in manufacturing and selling drugs, and heavy involvement in violence and illegal weapons.But police argue the laws help them deal with crimes involving gangs such as the Hells Angels, Bandidos and Rebels, which they say are sophisticated criminal organisations with global links, a major role in manufacturing and selling drugs, and heavy involvement in violence and illegal weapons.
The clubs argue they may harbour criminals but are not instrumental to their offences and the Queensland laws punish those who are not involved.The clubs argue they may harbour criminals but are not instrumental to their offences and the Queensland laws punish those who are not involved.