SA: Bikie violence due to paybacks, not bikie war police

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-1999
SA: Bikie violence due to paybacks, not bikie war police

By Valkerie Mangnall

ADELAIDE, Aug 16 AAP - Payback has played a part in the nation-wide escalation of bikie
gang violence but Australia is not in the grip of a bikie war, police chiefs believe.

Senior police from around the country today met in Adelaide to discuss tactics following a
spate of violence connected to bikie groups, including shootings and bombings in Adelaide and
Geelong and an arson attack on a Rebels clubhouse in Sydney.

South Australian Detective Superintendent Rob Maggs said he was confident the problems
could be delt with on a state-by-state basis and that police would put bikies out of the
criminal business.

"There is a national resolve that police across Australia will not tolerate criminal
activity by outlaw motorcycle gangs," he said.

Supt Maggs said police believed some of the recent incidents were paybacks but there was no
evidence of links between bikie-related incidents within SA or across states.

There was also no evidence of a so-called Pact 2000, under which bikie gangs are rumoured
to have agreed to divide up territory between the larger gangs.

"We don't believe there is a bikie war, per se, that is occurring," Supt Maggs told
reporters.

"We're aware, as a result of some discussions this morning, that there had been an increase
in a number of violent incidents within some states of Australia.

"We don't believe that it is a war for control of territory within specific states. It is
quite clear that a number of incidents that have occurred do not have a common theme or a
common motive.

"And some of them are quite isolated compared to others ... there is no evidence to
indicate at this stage that there is a link between what is going on in respective states."

South Australian Police Commissioner Mal Hyde organised the gathering and said it would
identify ways police around the country could share intelligence.

It is understood Tasmania, Northern Territory and Australian Federal Police were not
represented but written submissions were presented.

Meanwhile, South Australian Opposition Leader Mike Rann will meet National Crime Authority
head John Broome in Sydney tomorrow to discuss the issue.

Mr Rann called for all governments to give priority, extra resources and strong political
backing to a national action plan to isolate and destroy organised crime activities of outlaw
motorcycle gangs.

AAP vm/sn/bm/mo

KEYWORD: BIKIES SA NIGHTLEAD

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.