Tasmanian Outlaw bikies had long been linked to criminal behaviour, including violence, drugs and illegal weapon trading

Outlaw bikies had long been linked to criminal behaviour, including violence, drugs and illegal weapon trading.No doubt some Tasmanian gangs were linked to those interstate, and police must act to ensure violent feuds between rival gangs interstate did not leach into this state."I think these are real issues and I believe we need to be very conscious of what's going on interstate," Mr Dean said."Because of what's happening, police should lift it up to another level where they are watching very closely."We do not want (bikies) coming from the mainland to this state and creating the issues that they have on the mainland."A bikie war exploded in public last Sunday when a 29-year-old man was bashed to death after a brawl between two rival gangs - the Hells Angels and the Comancheros - at Sydney Airport.The attack came hours after the Bandidos bikie gang was involved in a series of drive-by shootings at six homes in Sydney suburbs, sparked by a feud with another club, Notorious.The interstate bikie bloodshed continued on Tuesday when two members of the Rebels were gunned down and killed in Canberra.Last year police raised concerns that Tasmania could become a haven for bikie gangs because of a lack of specific legislation targeting organised crime.A federal joint committee inquiry in Hobart questioned whether Tasmania could be a soft target for gangs moving from other states and heard bikie gangs had been linked with organised crime including drug and gun-trafficking, money-laundering and prostitution.The committee heard Tasmania had five active gangs - including Rebels, Outlaws, Satan's Riders and Devil's Henchmen - with 13 chapter houses and about 230 members.

Mr Dean said Tasmania did not experience the same level of bikie violence as other states but that he had seen regular cases of bikie-related crime during his 35 years in the police force.

"There were times when we had immense problems with bikie gangs," he said.

He said drugs were always a problem and recalled a major raid at Latrobe in which police had to use sledgehammers to gain access to a bikie clubhouse.

Mr Dean did not think huge changes to Tasmania's legislation were needed but that there should be better enforcement of existing laws - including enforcement of fortification legislation introduced two years ago to give police power to close fortified bikie clubhouses.

He said there were some very law-abiding motorcycle groups in the community but there were also outlaw groups with a history of violence and crime.

"As far as I'm aware (Tasmanian bikie-gang activity) has been reasonably quiet in recent times," Mr Dean said.

"But that's not to say it's not going to happen. We do have clubs here and with clubs come some problems."

"And while there's nothing to suggest (Tasmanian bikie gangs) are out of control, we certainly need to keep an eye out ... we don't want to go through what's happening on the mainland."

Tasmania Police Assistant Commissioner Phil Wilkinson said police already kept a close eye on bikies.

"The activity of all the clubs is monitored by Tasmania Police," he said.

what is this?Share this article

Posted in: Outlaws,Satan's Riders and Devil's Henchmen - with 13 chapter houses and about 230 members.s,Tasmania a haven for bikie gangRebels