Police on Thursday launched public consultation for the state government’s organised criminal gang legislation paper, to continue the fight against outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Since late last year, police have been heavily campaigning against these gangs.

Many of them have strong roots in the state, and have crafted a community-minded facade that has granted them acceptance.

There are two sides to the police’s fight against bikie gangs.

One side involves working directly to shut-down the gangs and their criminal operations.

The second is to undo the PR spin that the gangs undertake. Through their high-profile activities like toy runs and fundraisers, they try to tell the public that they are just blokes who ride bikes.

This is not the case. There is a difference between motorcycle clubs, and organised criminal operations. Organisations like the Bandidos, Rebels, Outlaws, Devils Henchmen and Black Uhlans fall into the latter category.

“The criminal activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs distinguish them from other recreational motorcycle groups who gather purely to socialise and ride motorcycles,” Tasmania Police Assistant Commissioner Glenn Frame said.

“Unlike these other bodies, outlaw motorcycle gangs self-identify as ‘one-percenters’, their view being that if 99 per cent of people who ride motorcycles are law abiding, they are the 1 per cent who are not. Outlaw motorcycle gang jackets usually carry a patch saying 1 per cent to reflect this fact.”

Strong anti-bikie gang laws already exist in other Australian states. Tasmania Police say it is imperative similar legislation is introduced here, so that we do not become a “safe haven” for these operations.

Anti-patch laws would mean all organised motorcycle gang members would be banned from wearing their colours in public.

Under anti-association laws, members who have been convicted of serious crimes would be banned from associating with each other.

Tasmanians have been invited to have their say in these legislative changes. It is important that we are all on the same page when it comes to outlaw motorcycle gangs.

That page must bear the message that our state will not play host to dangerous, destructive criminal organisations.