Lets Just Ban the Bikies – a radical legislative response to outlaw motorcycle gangs

• In Event: Examining the OMCGs

Abstract

In the Australian state of Queensland the government passed a criminal association law which allowed the Attorney-General to list outlaw motorcycle gangs as criminal organisations; effectively outlawing the outlaws. It is now a criminal offence to be a member or associate with members of these organisations. The law has been backed up by improved resources for police and extreme penalties for offenders. This paper will provide a background to the introduction of these extreme laws and a review of their effectiveness. In particular, it will focus on whether the law is effective in reducing the operation of OMCGs and if that meets any more strategic goals of reducing organized crime and street violence.

Author

• Mark Lauchs, Queensland University of Technology