As Tasmania prepares to welcome another outlaw motorcycle club to the state, the police reaction to visiting bikies has been labelled as "excessive". Tasmania Police made it clear they would be "monitoring" the Rebels during their visit at the weekend. Police “rostered on a significant number of additional officers” while the Rebels were in the state and ahead of the Bandidos visit next month. But members of the public say the statewide operation is a "waste of taxpayers money". “Don’t people realise that when they come over they are like all tourists they spend money in the state,” Leanne Alexander remarked. “Are the police going to do this for all the other groups … bicycles, grey nomads, scouts,” Lyn Semmens asked. “Just a thought, you may have a few bad eggs in a carton, so does that mean the rest are?” Patricia Curran-Smith added. RELATED STORIES: While many criticised, others agreed with the action of police. “People have very short memories,” Ted Sherrin commented. “When these gangs get too out of control, the public then starts screaming for action. [They are] called ‘outlaws’ for a reason. If you believe methamphetamine use is a problem in Tasmania, then you don’t have to dig too deep to see that these groups are behind it.” “For all those who think the police are over reaching, you have no idea what you are dealing with,” John Ernst added. Tasmania is not the first state to come down hard on outlaws. Queensland’s anti-bikie laws have been labelled some of the toughest in the country. The Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment laws were introduced in 2013, which meant members of criminal organisations faced an extra 15 to 25 years in prison when convicted of serious crimes – the laws were introduced by former Premier Campbell Newman and were criticised for their focus on bikies. Newman’s laws were overhauled last year, with the passing of the Serious and Organised Crime Amendment Bill in November- banning outlaw members from wearing their colours in public. The amended laws also included the introduction of a consorting offence in Queensland, making it illegal for a person to continue to associate with two other people who have been convicted of a serious crime after being warned by police. Consorting laws have been in place in New South Wales since 2012 and there are renewed calls for the ACT to adopt a similar approach – the ACT and Tasmania are the only jurisdictions without consorting laws. The Bandidos will arrive in Tasmania on November 19.
While many criticised, others agreed with the action of police.
“People have very short memories,” Ted Sherrin commented.
“When these gangs get too out of control, the public then starts screaming for action. [They are] called ‘outlaws’ for a reason. If you believe methamphetamine use is a problem in Tasmania, then you don’t have to dig too deep to see that these groups are behind it.”
“For all those who think the police are over reaching, you have no idea what you are dealing with,” John Ernst added.
Tasmania is not the first state to come down hard on outlaws.
Queensland’s anti-bikie laws have been labelled some of the toughest in the country.
The Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment laws were introduced in 2013, which meant members of criminal organisations faced an extra 15 to 25 years in prison when convicted of serious crimes – the laws were introduced by former Premier Campbell Newman and were criticised for their focus on bikies.
Newman’s laws were overhauled last year, with the passing of the Serious and Organised Crime Amendment Bill in November- banning outlaw members from wearing their colours in public.
The amended laws also included the introduction of a consorting offence in Queensland, making it illegal for a person to continue to associate with two other people who have been convicted of a serious crime after being warned by police.
Consorting laws have been in place in New South Wales since 2012 and there are renewed calls for the ACT to adopt a similar approach – the ACT and Tasmania are the only jurisdictions without consorting laws.
The Bandidos will arrive in Tasmania on November 19.
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