Advertisement

Crime, Law and Social Change

, Volume 69, Issue 5, pp 681–701 | Cite as

From bikers to savvy criminals. Outlaw motorcycle gangs in Australia: implications for legislators and law enforcement

  • Stephen Monterosso
Article
First Online:

Abstract

This article will examine outlaw motorcycle gang criminality in Australia and the difficulties faced by legislators and law enforcement agencies in responding to this concern. Adding further complication to the issue for the state is addressing the trepidation and disdain toward outlaw motorcycle gang behaviour that is commonplace in contemporary society. Beyond traditional criminal gang enterprise such as episodic inter-gang or more widespread violence and drug manufacture or distribution, a shift in sophistication by outlaw motorcycle gangs toward more diversified criminal enterprise has emerged. These ventures include money laundering and tactical collaboration with other crime groups and engagement with external expertise for example. Further, an expansion of legitimate business activity by outlaw motorcycle gangs which often enables other crime operations creates a more difficult landscape for legislators and law enforcement agencies to address outlaw motorcycle gang criminality. This has resulted in the emergence of populace anti-gang or anti-association type legal scaffolding to address these agents in the Australian criminal justice setting. However, the success or otherwise of these controversial legislative developments remains unclear as does the impact of law enforcement on domestic outlaw motorcycle gang criminality.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. 1.
    Australian Human Rights Commission (2008). What do I need to know? From https://www.humanrights.gov.au/publications/human-rights-what-do-i-need-know-2008#Heading58.
  2. 2.
    Ananian-Welsh, R. (2015). Kuczborski v Queensland and the scope of the Kable doctrine. University of Queensland Law. Journal, 34(1), 47–70.Google Scholar
  3. 3.
    Andrikidis, P. (Writer). (2012). Bikie wars: Brothers in arms [television series]. Sydney: Network Ten.Google Scholar
  4. 4.
    Assistant Commissioner Michael James Condon v Pompano Pty Ltd. (2013). HCA, 7.Google Scholar
  5. 5.
    Australian Crime Commission. (2015). Organised crime in Australia, 2015 from https://www.acic.gov.au/sites/g/files/net1491/f/2016/06/oca2015.pdf.
  6. 6.
    Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (2013). Outlaw motorcycle gangs, from https://www.acic.gov.au/about-crime/organised-crime-groups/outlaw-motor-cycle-gangs.
  7. 7.
    Ayling, J. (2011a). Pre-emptive strike: How Australia is tackling outlaw motorcycle gangs. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 36(3), 250–264.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-011-9105-7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. 8.
    Ayling, J. (2011b). Gang change and evolutionary theory. Crime, Law and Social Change, 56(1), 1–26.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-011-9301-x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    Ayling, J. M., & Broadhurst, R. (2011). Responding to organized crime in Australia and New Zealand. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
  10. 10.
    Barker, T. (2005). One percent bikers clubs: A description. Trends in Organized Crime, 9(1), 101–112.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12117-005-1005-0.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    Barker, T. (2014). Outlaw motorcycle gangs as organized crime groups. New York: Springer.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. 12.
    Barker, T., & Human, K. M. (2009). Crimes of the big four motorcycle gangs. Journal of Criminal Justice, 37(2), 174–179.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    Beare, M. E. (2000). Structures, strategies and tactics of transnational criminal organizations: Critical issues for enforcement. Canberra: Paper presented at the Transnational Crime Conference convened by the Australian Institute of Criminology in association with the Australian Federal Police and Australian Customs Service.Google Scholar
  14. 14.
    Bikes Unlimited Inc. (2015). Bikies Unlimited charity ride, 2015 from http://cr.bikesunlimited.org.au.
  15. 15.
    Bjørgo, T. (2016). Preventing crime. Basingstoke: Palgrave McMillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. 16.
    Bjørgo, T. (2017). Preventing organised crime originating from outlaw motorcycle clubs. Trends in Organized Crime, 1–39.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12117-017-9322-7.
  17. 17.
    Blokland, A., van Hout, L., van der Leest, W., & Soudijn, M. (2017). Not your average biker; criminal careers of members of Dutch motorcycle gangs. Trends in Organized Crime, 1–24.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12117-017-9303-x.
  18. 18.
    Bottom, B. (1979). The godfather in Australia: Organised crime's Australian connections. Terrey Hills: Reed.Google Scholar
  19. 19.
    Bricknell, S., & Australian Institute of Criminology (2012). Firearm trafficking and serious and organised crime gangs AIC reports. Research and Public Policy series. (pp. xi).Google Scholar
  20. 20.
    Bright, D. A., Hughes, C. E., & Chalmers, J. (2012). Illuminating dark networks: A social network analysis of an Australian drug trafficking syndicate. Crime, Law and Social Change, 57(2), 151–176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  21. 21.
    Callinan, R. (2009, March 29). Outbreak of Biker Violence Leaves Australia on Edge, Time. Retrieved from http://content.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1888288,00.html.
  22. 22.
    Cash, A. (2012). First they came for the bikies... A look into South Australia's anti bikie legislation. Perspective, 6, 17–22.Google Scholar
  23. 23.
    Charlesworth, H., Chiam, M., Hovell, D., & Williams, G. (2003). Deep anxieties: Australia and the international legal order. Sydney Law Review, 25(4), 423–465.Google Scholar
  24. 24.
    Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic).Google Scholar
  25. 25.
    Cohen, S. (1972). Folk devils and moral panics: The creation of the mods and rockers. London: MacGibbon and Kee.Google Scholar
  26. 26.
    Crimes (Criminal Organisations Control) Act 2012 (NSW).Google Scholar
  27. 27.
    Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Act 2010 (Cth).Google Scholar
  28. 28.
    Criminal Law (Criminal Organisations Disruption) Amendment Act 2013 (Qld).Google Scholar
  29. 29.
    Criminal Organisation Act 2009 (Qld).Google Scholar
  30. 30.
    Criminal Organisations Control Act 2012a (Vic).Google Scholar
  31. 31.
    Criminal Organisations Control Act 2012b (WA).Google Scholar
  32. 32.
    Dulaney, W. L. (2005). A brief history of “outlaw” motorcycle clubs. International Journal of Motorcycle Studies. http://ijms.nova.edu/November2005/IJMS_Artcl.Dulaney.html. Accessed 13 Feb 2018.
  33. 33.
    Dyer, A. (2015). Pre-crime control measures: Anti-association laws. In T. Crofts & A. Loughnan (Eds.), Criminalisation and criminal responsibility in Australia. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
  34. 34.
    Edwards, A., & Gill, P. (2002). Crime as enterprise? The case of “transnational organised crime”. Crime, Law and Social Change, 37(3), 203–223.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  35. 35.
    Elder, J., & Bedo, S. (2016, February 9). Bikies using luxury accommodation to run their criminal activities, news.com.au. Retrieved from http://www.news.com.au/national/bikies-using-luxury-accommodation-to-run-their-criminal-activities/news-story/3b089720aca08e36c90c09156cb46d5b.
  36. 36.
  37. 37.
    Goldsworthy, T. (2015). Why Australia's war on bikies will inevitably end in failure, The conversation. Retrieved from http://theconversation.com/why-australias-war-on-bikies-will-inevitably-end-in-failure-44972.
  38. 38.
    Goldsworthy, T. (2016). Criminalising conversations: Australia’s damaging love affair with consorting laws, The conversation. Retrieved from http://theconversation.com/criminalising-conversations-australias-damaging-love-affair-with-consorting-laws-53633.
  39. 39.
    Goldsworthy, T., & McGillivray, L. (2017). An examination of outlaw motorcycle gangs and their involvement in the illicit drug market and the effectiveness of anti-association legislative responses. International Journal of Drug Policy, 41, 110–117.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  40. 40.
    Gottschalk, P., & Markovic, V. (2016). Transnational criminal organizations TCOs): The case of combatting criminal biker gangs. International Journal of Criminal Justice Sciences, 11(1), 30–44.Google Scholar
  41. 41.
    Gray, A. (2009). Australian ‘bikie’ laws in the absence of an express bill of rights. Journal of International Commercial Law and Technology, 49(4), 277–285.Google Scholar
  42. 42.
    Gypsy Jokers Motorcycle Club Incorporated v Commissioner of Police [2008] HCA 4.Google Scholar
  43. 43.
    Harris, K. J. (2014). The brotherhood of bikers. Australian Police Journal, 68(4), 186–189.Google Scholar
  44. 44.
    Hells Angel, a strip club and a hero shot dead (2009). The Age. Retrieved from http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/a-biker-a-strip-club-and-a-dead-hero/2007/06/18/1182019032653.html.
  45. 45.
    Howden, S., & Welch, D. (2011, July 29). Bikies arrested for ‘significant’ tax fraud. In The Sydney morning herald Retrieved from http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/bikies-arrested-for-significant-tax-fraud-20110728-1i2b2.html.
  46. 46.
    Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT).Google Scholar
  47. 47.
    Jones, M. (1999). Myths and facts concerning the convention on the rights of the child in Australia. Australian Journal of Human Rights, 5(2). http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AUJlHRights/1999/28.html.
  48. 48.
    Katz, K. (2011). The enemy within: The outlaw motorcycle gang moral panic. American Journal of Criminal Justice, 36, 231–249.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12103-011-9106-6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  49. 49.
    Kuldova, T. (2016). Hells angels motorcycle corporation in the fashion business: Interrogating the fetishism of the trademark law. Journal of Design History, 30(4), 389–407.Google Scholar
  50. 50.
    Kuldova, T. (2017a). When elites and outlaws do philantrophy: On the limits of private vices for public benefit. Trends in Organized Crime, 1–15.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12117-017-9323-6.
  51. 51.
    Kuldova, T. (2017b). The sublime splendor of intimidation: Outlaw biker aesthetics of power. Visual Anthropology, 30(5), 379–402.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  52. 52.
    Law Council of Australia (2014). 'Anti-bikie’ laws: recent developments [Briefing Note]. Retrieved from https://www.lawcouncil.asn.au/lawcouncil/images/LCA-PDF/Briefs_Fact_Sheets_and_Publications/29_4_14_-_M_-_Anti-bikie_laws_Briefings_2.pdf.
  53. 53.
    Levi, M., & Maguire, M. (2004). Reducing and preventing organised crime: An evidence-based critique. Crime, Law and Social Change, 41(5), 397–469.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  54. 54.
    Loughnan, A. (2009). The legislation we had to have? The crimes (criminal Organisations control) act 2009 (NSW). Current Issues in. Criminal Justice, 20(3), 457–465.Google Scholar
  55. 55.
    Malm, A., Bichler, G., & Nash, R. (2011). Co-offending between criminal enterprise groups. Global Crime, 12(2), 112–128.  https://doi.org/10.1080/17440572.2011.567832.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  56. 56.
    Mercer, N. (2002, April 13). Ruthless execution followed weeks of planning, Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved from http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/04/12/1018333418650.html.
  57. 57.
    Moore, T. (2014, February 27). Alleged bikie charged with money laudering, Brisbane Times. Retrieved from https:www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/alleged-bikie-charged-with-money-laundering-20140227-33js0.html.
  58. 58.
    Morgan, G., Dagistanli, S., & Martin, G. (2010). Global fears, local anxiety: Policing, counterterrorism and moral panic over ‘bikie gang wars’ in new South Wales. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology, 43(3), 580–599.  https://doi.org/10.1375/acri.43.3.580.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  59. 59.
    Paddenburg, T. (2016, October 23). Tough new bikie laws never used, The. Sunday Times, 24.Google Scholar
  60. 60.
    Paoli, L. (1995). The banco Ambrosiano case: An investigation into the underestimation of the relations between organized crime and economic crime. Crime, Law and Social Change, 23, 345–365.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  61. 61.
    Queensland Police (2014). Anti-criminal gang laws-FAQs, from https://www.police.qld.gov.au/programs/acglfaq.htm.
  62. 62.
    Quinn, J. F. (2001). Angels, bandidos, outlaws, and pagans: The evolution of organised crime among the big four 1% motorcycle clubs. Deviant Behaviour, 22(4), 379–399.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  63. 63.
    Quinn, J., Koch, D., & S. (2003). The nature of criminality within one-percent motorcycle clubs. Deviant Behaviour, 24(3), 281–305.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  64. 64.
    Quinn, J. F., & Forsyth, C. J. (2009). Leather and rolexs; the symbolism and values of the motorcycle club. Deviant Behaviour, 30(3), 235–265.  https://doi.org/10.1080/01639620802168700.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  65. 65.
    Replacement VLAD 'anti-bikie' laws expected by end of 2015, Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath says. (2015), from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-17/taskforce-to-have-replacement-vlad-laws-by-end-of-year/6126626.
  66. 66.
    Rostami, A., & Mondani, H. (2017). Organizing on two wheels: Uncovering the organizational patterns of hells angels MC in Sweden. Trends in Organized Crime, 1–17.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s12117-017-9310-y.
  67. 67.
    Royds, D. (2013). The murder of don Hancock. Australian Police Journal (December). Google Scholar
  68. 68.
    Sanderson, K., Bell, P., & Merrington, S. (2014). A case study analysis of the Montreal (Canada) chapter of the hells angels outlaw motorcycle club (HAMC) (1995-2010): Applying the crime business analysis matrix (CBAM). Mustang Journal of Law & Legal Studies, 7, 18–38.Google Scholar
  69. 69.
    Sarre, R. (2013). Reducing the influence of outlaw motorcycle gangs: Some reflections on current Australian legislation. Australasian. Policing, 5(2), 7–8.Google Scholar
  70. 70.
    Scalia, V. (2016). Crime, networks and power. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  71. 71.
    Schloenhardt, A. (2008). Mafias and motorbikes: New organised crime offences in Australia. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 19(3), 259–282.Google Scholar
  72. 72.
    Schloenhardt, A. (2011). Banning the bikies: Queensland’s Criminal Organisation Act 2009. Paper presented at the Bar Association of Queensland Annual Conference. Queensland: Gold Coast.Google Scholar
  73. 73.
    Selvaratnam, N. (2013, October 30). Bikie crime growing in migrant communities, SBS. Retrieved from http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/10/30/bikie-crime-growing-migrant-communities.
  74. 74.
    Serious and Organised Crime (Control) Act 2008 (SA).Google Scholar
  75. 75.
    Serious Crime Control Act 2009 (NT).Google Scholar
  76. 76.
    Shand, A. (2011). Outlaws: The truth about Australian bikers. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
  77. 77.
    Shooting at bikie gang headquarters in Melbourne's west captured on CCTV (2016). Herald Sun. Retrieved from http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/shooting-at-bikie-gang-headquarters-in-melbournes-west-captured-on-cctv/news-story/5ef5fc975fe00961a1acb561ca713636.
  78. 78.
    Silvester, J. (2007, June 23). Riding low: The world of bikie inc. In The age Retrieved from http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2007/06/22/1182019368179.html.
  79. 79.
    Silvester, J. (2015a). Bikies: Please raid us so we can look tough too. In The age Retrieved from http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/bikies-please-raid-us-so-we-can-look-tough-too-20150313-143hwv.html.Google Scholar
  80. 80.
    Silvester, J. (2015b). The brutal truth: There is no outlaw code; bikie gangs are all for money, power and fear, The age. Retrieved from http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/the-brutal-truth-there-is-no-outlaw-code-bikie-gangs-are-all-for-money-power-and-fear-20150318-1m2pi4.html.
  81. 81.
    Silvester, J. (2015c). International bikie gangs target Victoria for business, The age. Retrieved from http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/international-bikie-gangs-target-victoria-for-business-20150313-143gxc.html.
  82. 82.
    Solomons, M. (2015). Queensland hells angels challenge bikie laws with first charity motorcycle ride since VLAD act introduced, ABC news. Retrieved from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-07/hells-angels-throw-down-gauntlet-to-qld-police/6288384.
  83. 83.
    South Australia v Totani. (2010). HCA, 39.Google Scholar
  84. 84.
    Tattoo Parlours Act 2013 (Qld).Google Scholar
  85. 85.
    Taylor, G., & Knowles, G. (2016, April 28). Father of man slain in bikie shooting sends Facebook warning to killer, The West Australian. Retrieved from https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/31453409/father-slain-in-bikie-shooting-just-a-normal-kid-normal-life/#page1.
  86. 86.
  87. 87.
    Tsingou, E. (2017). New governors on the block: The rise of anti-money laundering professionals. Crime, Law. Social Change, 1–15.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s10611-017-9751-x.
  88. 88.
    Vander Beken, T. (2004). Risky business: A risk-based methedology to measure organized crime. Crime, Law and Social Change, 41(5), 471–516.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  89. 89.
    Veno, A., & Gannon, E. (2003). The brotherhoods : Inside the outlaw motorcycle clubs (Rev. ed.). Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
  90. 90.
    Vereinscrecht Kriminelle Rocker bekämpfen (2016), from https://www.mitmischen.de/diskutieren/nachrichten/Dezember_2016/Rocker/index.jsp.
  91. 91.
    Vereinscrecht Kriminelle Rocker bekämpfen (2016), § 9 from https://www.mitmischen.de/diskutieren/nachrichten/Dezember_2016/Rocker/index.jsp.
  92. 92.
    Vergani, M., & Collins, S. (2015). Radical criminals in the grey area: A comparative study of Mexican religious drug cartels and Australian outlaw motorcycle gangs. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, 38(6), 414–432.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  93. 93.
    Queensland Parliamentary Counsel (2013). Vicious, Lawless Association Disestablishment Act 2013 (Qld). Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel, Brisbane.Google Scholar
  94. 94.
    Vogler, S. (2016, April 4). Queensland task force recommends repealing VLAD act, introducing control orders, The courier mail. Retrieved from http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-vlad-law-changes-recommended-by-review-taskforce/news-story/c74da5f7c7d92bd4990f625f03a3c7ab.
  95. 95.
    Wainohu v New South Wales [2011] HCA 24.Google Scholar
  96. 96.
    Wilson, P. R., & Lincoln, R. (2009). Crime on my mind. Sydney: New Holland Publishers.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V., part of Springer Nature 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Business LawCurtin University Law School, Curtin UniversityPerthAustralia

Personalised recommendations

Cite article

Buy options