A range of statements and issues have been raised in recent times in relation to activities of Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCGs) on the Gold Coast.
I would like to take a moment to address some of these, and to put them into a context that hopefully will bring both value and perspective to this important issue.
The Queensland Police Service’s first and most important priority is public safety.
This responsibility is at the very core of everything we do.
The people of Queensland expect us to do everything in our power to disrupt, prevent, and where necessary, respond to illegal activity, including the illicit activities of OMCGs.
This is exactly what we do, day in and day out. We do all we lawfully can.
Much of our work in relation to OMCGs remains, by necessity, covert and out of the public eye, however a lack of visibility should not be confused with a lack of activity.
The reality is that the QPS is always monitoring what is happening through the OMCGs, both in Queensland and nationally.
For example, a national gathering of the Gypsy Jokers OMCG is taking place within South Eastern Queensland this week.
The QPS is actively planning and will manage this activity to ensure public safety and address any criminal activity or traffic infringements should they occur, using resources from the regions, State Traffic, Operations Support Command and State Crime Operations Command and spearheaded by Taskforce Hydra.
Taskforce Hydra is a dedicated team of intelligence and investigative officers who work closely with the regions and other specialist areas to tackle OMCGs.
Taskforce Hydra has been in operation since 2007, and in that time, 972 people, mostly members and associates of OMCGs have been charged with some 2700 offences, including serious crimes such as attempted murder, arson, torture, firearms offences, and drug trafficking.
This includes investigating the arson of the Rebels Clubhouse at Albion, where members of the Bandidos OMCG were convicted and jailed.
We have very strong intelligence sharing networks throughout the country, and we make sure that we gather as much intelligence as we can, through a whole range of channels, including our own officers, who are interacting with the public every day throughout the State.
As an aspect of this we regularly produce Intelligence Information Bulletins, but that does not mean that extreme violence between OMCGs is imminent.
OMCGs exist throughout Queensland.
In a large and decentralised State such as Queensland, it is essential that Brisbane-based specialist units such as Taskforce Hydra exist and are able to coordinate information, intelligence and police activity and support their colleagues State-wide.
The recently announced five-officer Illegal Firearms Squad is an example of that – illegal firearms activity exists across the State also.
We are always concerned and aware of the potential for conflict between OMCGs competing for lucrative illicit activities. We took appropriate action after the recent disagreement and physical altercation between members of two different OMCG groups at a Gold Coast Nightclub.
While we are monitoring – and will continue to monitor the situation very closely, we have nothing to indicate at present that there is anything more serious planned. If that changes, we will take all necessary action, including informing the public.
We are keenly conscious of our responsibilities to the people of Queensland, and our commitment to public safety is whole-hearted.
Bob Atkinson APM
Commissioner
Queensland Police Service
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