The Rebels visited last month and the Bandidos are currently in the state.

Tasmania Police said a “comprehensive operational strategy” was developed for both the rides.

Below were the most common comments and responses from Detective Inspector Glen Ball, of Tasmania Police’s Serious Organised Crime Unit.

Q: Police time would be better spent worrying about crimes that happen regularly. 

A: Crimes such as burglary, stealing, and armed robberies are often ice related and there is clear evidence that OMCGs are involved in the importation and distribution of drugs.

Just because their criminality is not affecting you directly does not mean they are not contributing to crime.

As with any large, organised event or large travelling group of vehicles in Tasmania, it is the role of Tasmania Police to provide traffic management and a presence. 

If we need to provide directions at intersections  and temporarily close roads to get the groups through cities with the least amount of disruption, that’s what we’ll do.

A large group of motorcyclists, can be intimidating to many members of the public. The aim of Tasmania Police is to minimise the disruption to commuters and general public.

Tasmania Police will enforce the rules for safe driving behaviour and ensure the social activities of all people, including OMCG members attending our state are appropriate.  We will ensure that the community feel safe and be safe.

Q: Wearing a patch and riding a Harley doesn’t make you a criminal. 

A: The criminal activities of OMCGs distinguish them from many recreational motorcycle riding clubs comprised of people who get together solely for the purpose of riding their motorcycles and socialising.

The community need to be aware that OMCGs are not harmless motorcycle clubs—they are well organised criminal gangs causing harm and disruption across our country.

Significant evidence exists over a significant period of time, both within Australia and internationally, that demonstrates the involvement of OMCG in all forms of serious criminal activity including crimes of  violence, drugs, firearms and other crime.

OMCG are criminal organisations with business models designed to profit from illegal activities, particularly the sale of illicit drugs.

Q: They are a club, not a gang. 

A: OMCG can be distinguished from a club by their criminal activities. The obvious overt sign is the “1%” image worn by OMCG members, often displayed prominently on their leather jackets and frequently observed in tattoos on members.

This comes from a supposed quote from the American Motorcycle Association that 99 per cent of motorcyclists were honest, law-abiding citizens and that only 1 per cent were bad and do not confirm with the social norms and rules of society – all OMCG currently present in Tasmania,  including those that have recently held National Runs here, all identify as  “1% ers”.

Q: Not all bikies are bad. It’s a police/media beat up. 

A: The activity of OMCG members ranges from public nuisance through to high level organised criminal activity and involvement with some of the most significant criminal syndicates operating in Australia today.

OMCGs are involved in violence, murders, shootings, drug manufacture and distribution, and intimidation.  A simple internet search in respect of OMCG violence, particularly in mainland Australian states demonstrates this.

The reach of OMCGs is not restricted by state or national borders. Criminal activities conducted by OMCGs are often facilitated by their involvement in both legitimate and illegitimate business.

Q: They’re tourists. Why do police target people spending money in the state​.

A: Deterring the organised crime involvement of  OMCG is a national issue that requires a nationally coordinated response.

As has occurred with a number of OMCG runs to Tasmania, the Commonwealth and the states and territories work in a partnership to strengthen multi-jurisdictional approaches, coordination, information sharing and joint activities to combat the national threat of serious and organised crime.

In recent years Tasmania Police has charged a number of OMCG members, both Tasmanian and also from interstate, with drug and firearm trafficking offences.

These members have been convicted and a number are still serving lengthy jail sentences.

Q: It’s just scaremongering. They don’t hurt anyone when they are here and bring in a lot of money, the same as any other tourist.

A: In pursuit of wealth and power, OMCGs have become more entrepreneurial in their expansion and recruitment, sacrificing club values to advantage their serious and organised crime activities.

The size and influence of OMCGs in Australia has expanded considerably over the past decade. OMCGs are also increasingly recruiting younger members as well as individuals with specific skills to remain competitive in the criminal environment.

There is a cost and risk of being a member of, or associated with, an OMCG, and this risk becomes greater as law enforcement set their sights on these groups. The criminal conduct of OMCG is far reaching and may impact on the greater community.

During the 2015 sentencing of a Tasmania Rebels OMCG member in the Tasmania Supreme Court to 10 years’ jail for trafficking amphetamine, the judge made the following in part comments:

“Amphetamine use in the community is extremely costly in human or personal terms, and in economic terms.  The drug causes much disruption in the community. Addiction leads to the commission of crime for funding. Use of the drug is often responsible for violence, some of which is dealt with by the courts, some of which is unseen and undetected…To be engaged at such a high level of importation and distribution, and in the peddling of the cause of much human misery and community disruption is a very grave matter…”