Coalition Government to enable criminal bikie gangs to be outlawed

Premier Ted Baillieu and Attorney-General Robert Clark have announced that the Coalition Government will today introduce legislation to enable criminal bikie and similar gangs to be outlawed.

“The legislation will give Victorian law enforcement authorities strong additional powers to act against criminal bikie and other gangs,” Mr Baillieu said.

Mr Clark said that unlike the former Labor Government, the Coalition Government is prepared to act to outlaw criminal bikie gangs, and will not allow Victoria to become a criminal bikie gang haven.

“Under the legislation, Victoria Police will be able to apply to the Supreme Court for an order that a criminal bikie or other gang be made a declared organisation,” Mr Clark said.

The Supreme Court will be able to make such a declaration whenever it is satisfied that the organisation is engaging in serious criminal activity or that gang members are using the organisation for serious criminal activity, and that the activities of the organisation pose a serious threat to public safety and order.

Serious criminal activity will consist of systemic and organised activity involving the commission of offences carrying a sentence of more than 10 years’ jail or other specified serious offences.

Once a declaration has been made against an organisation, the court will be empowered to make control orders prohibiting the gang from continuing to operate, or prohibiting or restricting specified activities of the gang or its members, including prohibiting specified members from associating with or participating in gang activities.

Similar declarations and control orders will also be able to be made against individuals.

Gang members who breach the restrictions will face up to five years’ jail and the confiscation of any property involved in the breach.

The legislation will also include powers to allow interstate orders to be registered and enforced in Victoria. Further legislation will be introduced early next year to allow fortifications of criminal bikie and other gangs to removed.