ID :
73970
Thu, 08/06/2009 - 12:01
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/73970
The shortlink copeid
Anti-bikie laws 'will spark violence'
(AAP) A leading criminologist has warned of a major escalation in gang-related violence if state governments push ahead with anti-bikie laws.
Professor Paul Wilson, a forensic psychologist and chair of criminology at Bond
University, says similar moves in Canada gave rise to greater violence and sparked a
bikie war.
South Australia and NSW have already enacted laws that allow bikie gangs to be
declared criminal organisations, while other states are in the process of
implementing similar measures.
The NSW government introduced its anti-association laws following a deadly brawl at
Sydney Airport in March involving members of the Comancheros and Hells Angels.
Prof Wilson, along with a number of bikie gang members, addressed the National Press
Club in Canberra on Wednesday as part of a rare public relations exercise.
The bikies, represented by the United Motorcycle Council of NSW, which includes in
its membership the Bandidos, Rebels and Comancheros, says the new laws which would
ban members from associating with each other are draconian and unfair.
Prof Wilson agrees, saying the Crime (Criminal Organisations) Act of NSW, and
similar legislation in South Australia and other states, is repugnant and akin to
efforts by the Menzies government in the 1950s to ban the Communist Party.
"These laws are undemocratic, focus on groups and not individuals, and, like similar
legislation in other countries, will not only be ineffective but counterproductive,"
Prof Wilson said.
Prof Wilson warns the introduction of such laws could lead to more violence among
bikie groups and more violence in the community generally.
He said that similar laws that banned outlaw gangs and clubs in Canada led to
institutions of the state coming under attack and spawned a new wave of violence.
"Since 1994, there have been no less than 85 murders and 92 attempted murders
related to Quebec's biker wars, as well as 129 arson attacks and 82 bombings."
There was not one iota of evidence to suggest that anti-bikie laws introduced in
Canada had diminished gang activity, reduced organised crime or led to the demise of
bikie gangs, he said.
"Instead, and predictably, gang activity has changed, becoming displaced and more
submerged and less able to be accessed by law enforcement."
Prof Wilson said moves by NSW to toughen laws of association were simply a knee-jerk
reaction to the Sydney Airport brawl and did not reflect the threat posed by bikie
gangs.
He said recent figures presented to a federal parliamentary inquiry into laws
governing organised crime showed that gang-related violence generated by street,
ethnic and biker groups represented just 0.6 per cent of all crime.
Bikie-related violence was estimated to account for just 0.3 per cent of crime
nationally.
Professor Paul Wilson, a forensic psychologist and chair of criminology at Bond
University, says similar moves in Canada gave rise to greater violence and sparked a
bikie war.
South Australia and NSW have already enacted laws that allow bikie gangs to be
declared criminal organisations, while other states are in the process of
implementing similar measures.
The NSW government introduced its anti-association laws following a deadly brawl at
Sydney Airport in March involving members of the Comancheros and Hells Angels.
Prof Wilson, along with a number of bikie gang members, addressed the National Press
Club in Canberra on Wednesday as part of a rare public relations exercise.
The bikies, represented by the United Motorcycle Council of NSW, which includes in
its membership the Bandidos, Rebels and Comancheros, says the new laws which would
ban members from associating with each other are draconian and unfair.
Prof Wilson agrees, saying the Crime (Criminal Organisations) Act of NSW, and
similar legislation in South Australia and other states, is repugnant and akin to
efforts by the Menzies government in the 1950s to ban the Communist Party.
"These laws are undemocratic, focus on groups and not individuals, and, like similar
legislation in other countries, will not only be ineffective but counterproductive,"
Prof Wilson said.
Prof Wilson warns the introduction of such laws could lead to more violence among
bikie groups and more violence in the community generally.
He said that similar laws that banned outlaw gangs and clubs in Canada led to
institutions of the state coming under attack and spawned a new wave of violence.
"Since 1994, there have been no less than 85 murders and 92 attempted murders
related to Quebec's biker wars, as well as 129 arson attacks and 82 bombings."
There was not one iota of evidence to suggest that anti-bikie laws introduced in
Canada had diminished gang activity, reduced organised crime or led to the demise of
bikie gangs, he said.
"Instead, and predictably, gang activity has changed, becoming displaced and more
submerged and less able to be accessed by law enforcement."
Prof Wilson said moves by NSW to toughen laws of association were simply a knee-jerk
reaction to the Sydney Airport brawl and did not reflect the threat posed by bikie
gangs.
He said recent figures presented to a federal parliamentary inquiry into laws
governing organised crime showed that gang-related violence generated by street,
ethnic and biker groups represented just 0.6 per cent of all crime.
Bikie-related violence was estimated to account for just 0.3 per cent of crime
nationally.
