Canberra police report growing number of biker gang members — ABC News Australia

Canberra police in Australia have reported an increase in the number of members of outlaw biker gangs in the Australian Capital Territory. Five such groups are currently active there, with about 45 members and approximately 20 people associated with them. ACT Police Chief Scott Lee described this trend as a cause for concern.

As ABC News Australia reports, Lee said that such groups are linked to organised crime. He noted that their numbers in the region are lower than in Sydney and Melbourne, but have increased noticeably in recent years.

Groups in Canberra

For decades, Rebels was the only established biker gang in the territory. Since the beginning of the 2010s, most of its members have moved to other groups, including Bandidos, Hells Angels, Finks and Comancheros. Several of them already have their own chapters in the ACT rather than using Canberra only as a transit route.

Scott Lee believes that Canberra's growth and its market make the city attractive to crime. Associate Professor Mark Lauchs, who studies the activities of such groups in Australia, also linked their strengthening in Canberra to the fact that it is more difficult for them to operate in other parts of the country.

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Legislative initiatives

ACT Police supports introducing anti-association laws that could restrict open contact and gatherings of group members in public places. Lee stressed that such provisions would not be a universal tool for combating these groups. Previous ACT governments led by the Labor Party repeatedly opposed such rules because of their possible conflict with the ACT Human Rights Act.

In February, the territory's government also announced proposals intended to give police broader powers to search for illegal firearms without a warrant. In March, authorities announced a ban on wearing gang colours and patches. Both initiatives still have to be considered by the ACT Legislative Assembly.

Drugs and recruitment

Sergeant Mark Alexander of the specialist Task Force Invidia said the groups are linked to the illegal trade in drugs and weapons, as well as extortion. Earlier this month, police detained several members of ACT groups suspected of transporting 70 kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of $10 million.

According to Alexander, such groups try to recruit vulnerable young men seeking status. At the same time, police estimate that most rank-and-file members receive little money despite the significant risks. Law enforcement officers urged residents to submit anonymous reports about the groups' activities.