Gangs in Australia
Encyclopedia
The history of gangs in Australia goes back at least 100 years. Criminal gangs have flourished in the Rocks district of Sydney in its early history in the 19th century, The Rocks Push was a notorious larrikin gang, which dominated the The Rocks
area of Sydney, Australia from the 1870s to the end of the 1890s.
In its day it was referred to as The Push, a title which has since come to be more widely used for the 1940s left-wing movement the Sydney Push. The gang was engaged in running warfare with other larrikin gangs of the time such as the Straw Hat Push, the Glebe Push, the Argyle Cut Push, the Forty Thieves from Surry Hills and the Gibb Street Mob. Italian crime gangs have been active in Melbourne and Sydney, and even some youth gangs like the Sharpies in the 1960s have been large enough to cause disturbances, though lacking criminal organisation.
was active in the Cabramatta area of Sydney and believed to be involved in the murder of John Newman
, the Member for Cabramatta in the NSW State Parliament. Other gangs active in Cabramatta, Sydney include the Four Aces and Madonna's Mob. Chinese gangs have existed as a low level activity for at least 20 years.
Whilst media focus on Asian gangs in Australia is not as severe as it once was in the 1980s, activities across a diverse criminal portfolio continue to occur. Groups at varied states of organisation are involved in murder, violence, drug importation and distribution, money laundering, human trafficking, and coercion of women into illegal prostitution.
In terms of Chinese gang activity, highly organised crime syndicates in Sydney have looked to Chinese youths on student visas for their recruitment drives. Multimillion-dollar prostitution rackets have been operating in Melbourne for several years, one of the largest by Mulgrave woman Xue Di Yan.
Vietnamese syndicates have gained media attention again recently with a recent drug bust in Melbourne. Casino high roller, Thanh Hai Pham, and his wife were ring leaders of this syndicate and a total of 12 people were arrested in connection with this operation.
Of a much less organised nature, has been the violence perpetrated by youths of Southeast Asian descent across Melbourne. Luke Mitchell, who in 2009 came to the aid of a stranger, was set upon and stabbed by a group of Thai nationals who have since been arrested. One of the most horrendous acts of violence in recent times has been the machete attack outside Bubble nightclub on bouncer, Ahmad Chokr. Most recently, a man was beaten in front of his family at St.Albans station by a group of youth of "Asian appearance". In Melbourne currently, new gangs; B2L (Born 2 Love), VND (Vietnam Dragons) and KBK (Kickback Krew) have arisen, but do not share the same violent nature.
For a long time, Middle-Eastern gangs conducted extortion against nightclubs, ram raids, and car theft. More recently, drive-by shootings have become more common, with tit for tat drive by shooting starting as early as 1998, and becoming more common in recent years., including a drive by machine gun attack on a police station in Lakemba, Sydney.
In 2006, a permanent Middle-Eastern Organised Crime squad was set up following revenge attacks, including stabbings and assaults, by Middle Eastern youths following the Cronulla riots.
and Hells Angels
and Gypsy Jokers as well as local groups. One of the major events in Australian motorcycle gang criminal history was what became known as the Milperra Massacre
in 1984, where a fight between two gangs, the Comancheros and the Bandidos
in Milperra in the South of Sydney
, turned into a gun battle that claimed seven lives - six gang members and a civilian. While conflict between various clubs has been ever present, in 2008 the gang conflict escalated, with 13 shootings taking place in Sydney in the space of two weeks.
Gang violence has become high profile to the point where various state governments have taken steps to change laws to focus on the problem, and police have set up groups to deal with the threat, including the Crime Gang Task Force in South Australia Bikie gangs in South Australia at least, are involved in drugs
, murder
, extortion
and other forms of intimidation
and violence
. Bikie gangs in South Australia
have diversified their activities into both legal and illegal commercial business enterprises.
In Western Australia
they are involved in the drug trade Laws to deal with Bikie gangs (applying to any association, bike or otherwise) have been introduced into Northern Territory
, South Australia
, and are presently being looked at in NSW and Queensland
.
In early 2009, Comanchero Motorcycle Club
and Hells Angels
were involved in a clash at Sydney Airport
. One gang member was beaten to death in plain view of witnesses at the airport, and police estimated as many as 15 men were involved in the violence. Police documents detail the brawl as a result of the Comanchero and Hells Angels Presidents being on the same flight from Melbourne
. Four suspects were arrested as a result of the altercation.
Including two murders in the capital city, 4 people were killed in the space of a week in Canberra
and in Sydney
. As a result of heightening violence, New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees announced the state police anti-gang squad would be boosted to 125 members from 50.
and Sydney
. There are many suburban gangs throughout Melbourne involving clashes between North-West and South-East as well as ongoing battles in Melbourne's Western Suburbs. There are many other gangs evolving throughout the outer suburbs of Brisbane
as well. There have also been a few cases of Australian gangs imitating American street gangs such as the Bloods
with no affiliation to the original gangs. In most cases these minor gangs are formed by bored youth influenced by the American Hip Hop
scene. The internet has become a focal point for these gangs, posting pictures, post codes and sometimes even running a gang's personal website. Australian youth gangs grow in accordance to general population growth.
During the early 1990s, Melbourne youth gangs included: 3174, based around Noble Park and Springvale; Keyzy/Burra boys, based in Keysborough; LSC, based in St. Albans through to Taylors Lakes; The Coburg Boys, based in Coburg, 14K, based in Footscray; MC3, based in Dandenong South; Oakleigh Wogs, based in Oakleigh; MTS, based in Essendon; Springy Nips, based in Springvale and The Broady Boys based in Broadmeadows.
Current gangs in Melbourne include the Richmond based Yellow Klique, city based Central Crew, the western suburbs Brothers 4 Life and Young St Albans and Kings Park. Members from Yellow Klique and Central Crew had formed alliances and are currently at war with Brothers 4 Life. Born 2 Love, Vietnam Dragons and Kickback Krew are currently in alliance, do not fight but have fun and kiss. - This gang war has seen an increase in knife attacks amongst young Asian men as well as a rise in bottle and glass related assaults. These three gangs have shown to be extremely violent even in front of police and security. Their activity has gone from assaulting one another in the streets to fire bombing of rival's houses. In 2010, a Victoria Police task force headed by Acting Detective Inspector Dave de Francesco, named Task Force Echo, was formed to counter warring gangs.
Gangland culture in Brisbane and the surrounding areas has increased dramatically in recent years with respect to gang violence and behaviours in youths. Gangs in "crime hotspot" areas such as the Gold Coast and Western Brisbane has seen youth violence and disorderly conduct rise by 10% in the last two years, according to the Queensland Police Union. Gangs have been attributed to the increasing levels of youth violence and incarceration numbers in Queensland's south east. Gangs such as Butch Lesbian Soldiers (BLS), Village People and FLC have drawn comparisons to infamous gang cultures in areas such as Los Angeles and Moscow. However, Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson denies these suggestions of strong gang presence, saying, "Brisbane does not have crime gangs similar to Los Angeles ... There are groups of mainly young males who band together and become involved in criminal behaviour, but they are quite different from the criminal gangs that operate in the US." Commissioner Atkinson further stated the unfairness to attribute the increasing levels of youth violence and illegal activities with ethnically or culturally based gangs. In 2006, three youths were charged with assault following the attack on two other youths from a neighbouring , reported to be gang motivated school.
The Rocks, New South Wales
The Rocks is an urban locality, tourist precinct and historic area of Sydney's city centre, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the southern shore of Sydney Harbour, immediately north-west of the Sydney central business district...
area of Sydney, Australia from the 1870s to the end of the 1890s.
In its day it was referred to as The Push, a title which has since come to be more widely used for the 1940s left-wing movement the Sydney Push. The gang was engaged in running warfare with other larrikin gangs of the time such as the Straw Hat Push, the Glebe Push, the Argyle Cut Push, the Forty Thieves from Surry Hills and the Gibb Street Mob. Italian crime gangs have been active in Melbourne and Sydney, and even some youth gangs like the Sharpies in the 1960s have been large enough to cause disturbances, though lacking criminal organisation.
East and Southeast Asian gangs
Asian gangs have some history in Australia. In the late 1980s, the Vietnamese gang 5T5T (gang)
The 5T was a Vietnamese crime gang active in the Cabramatta and Bankstown area of Sydney, Australia, in the final two decades of the 20th century.-The Rise of the 5T:...
was active in the Cabramatta area of Sydney and believed to be involved in the murder of John Newman
John Newman
John Newman may refer to:*John Newman , first Australian politician to be assassinated*John Newman , member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition*John Newman , U.S...
, the Member for Cabramatta in the NSW State Parliament. Other gangs active in Cabramatta, Sydney include the Four Aces and Madonna's Mob. Chinese gangs have existed as a low level activity for at least 20 years.
Whilst media focus on Asian gangs in Australia is not as severe as it once was in the 1980s, activities across a diverse criminal portfolio continue to occur. Groups at varied states of organisation are involved in murder, violence, drug importation and distribution, money laundering, human trafficking, and coercion of women into illegal prostitution.
In terms of Chinese gang activity, highly organised crime syndicates in Sydney have looked to Chinese youths on student visas for their recruitment drives. Multimillion-dollar prostitution rackets have been operating in Melbourne for several years, one of the largest by Mulgrave woman Xue Di Yan.
Vietnamese syndicates have gained media attention again recently with a recent drug bust in Melbourne. Casino high roller, Thanh Hai Pham, and his wife were ring leaders of this syndicate and a total of 12 people were arrested in connection with this operation.
Of a much less organised nature, has been the violence perpetrated by youths of Southeast Asian descent across Melbourne. Luke Mitchell, who in 2009 came to the aid of a stranger, was set upon and stabbed by a group of Thai nationals who have since been arrested. One of the most horrendous acts of violence in recent times has been the machete attack outside Bubble nightclub on bouncer, Ahmad Chokr. Most recently, a man was beaten in front of his family at St.Albans station by a group of youth of "Asian appearance". In Melbourne currently, new gangs; B2L (Born 2 Love), VND (Vietnam Dragons) and KBK (Kickback Krew) have arisen, but do not share the same violent nature.
Middle Eastern gangs
Middle-Eastern gangs were observed to rise around 1995–1996 in Australia, most prominently in Sydney. By 2000, the middle Eastern gangs had gained ground in Sydney, as police were hampered by inexperienced officers, fear of Internal Affairs investigations and obstructive policy on dealing with ethnic minorities, which made NSW Police focus on other areas of crime.For a long time, Middle-Eastern gangs conducted extortion against nightclubs, ram raids, and car theft. More recently, drive-by shootings have become more common, with tit for tat drive by shooting starting as early as 1998, and becoming more common in recent years., including a drive by machine gun attack on a police station in Lakemba, Sydney.
In 2006, a permanent Middle-Eastern Organised Crime squad was set up following revenge attacks, including stabbings and assaults, by Middle Eastern youths following the Cronulla riots.
Outlaw motorcycle gangs
Outlaw motorcycle gangs are present in Australia, with international outlaw clubs like the BandidosBandidos
The Bandidos Motorcycle Club, also known as the Bandido Nation, is a "one-percenter" motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate with a worldwide membership. The club was formed in 1966 by Don Chambers in Texas. Its slogan is We are the people our parents warned us about. It is estimated to have...
and Hells Angels
Hells Angels
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is a worldwide one-percenter motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation. Their primary motto...
and Gypsy Jokers as well as local groups. One of the major events in Australian motorcycle gang criminal history was what became known as the Milperra Massacre
Milperra massacre
The Milperra Massacre was a firearm battle between rival motorcycle gang members on September 2 1984, in Milperra, a south-western suburb of Sydney...
in 1984, where a fight between two gangs, the Comancheros and the Bandidos
Bandidos
The Bandidos Motorcycle Club, also known as the Bandido Nation, is a "one-percenter" motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate with a worldwide membership. The club was formed in 1966 by Don Chambers in Texas. Its slogan is We are the people our parents warned us about. It is estimated to have...
in Milperra in the South of Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, turned into a gun battle that claimed seven lives - six gang members and a civilian. While conflict between various clubs has been ever present, in 2008 the gang conflict escalated, with 13 shootings taking place in Sydney in the space of two weeks.
Gang violence has become high profile to the point where various state governments have taken steps to change laws to focus on the problem, and police have set up groups to deal with the threat, including the Crime Gang Task Force in South Australia Bikie gangs in South Australia at least, are involved in drugs
DRUGS
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows are an American post-hardcore band formed in 2010. They released their debut self-titled album on February 22, 2011.- Formation :...
, murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, extortion
Extortion
Extortion is a criminal offence which occurs when a person unlawfully obtains either money, property or services from a person, entity, or institution, through coercion. Refraining from doing harm is sometimes euphemistically called protection. Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime...
and other forms of intimidation
Intimidation
Intimidation is intentional behavior "which would cause a person of ordinary sensibilities" fear of injury or harm. It's not necessary to prove that the behavior was so violent as to cause terror or that the victim was actually frightened.Criminal threatening is the crime of intentionally or...
and violence
Violence
Violence is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes. violence, while often a stand-alone issue, is often the culmination of other kinds of conflict, e.g...
. Bikie gangs in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
have diversified their activities into both legal and illegal commercial business enterprises.
In Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
they are involved in the drug trade Laws to deal with Bikie gangs (applying to any association, bike or otherwise) have been introduced into Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, and are presently being looked at in NSW and Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
.
In early 2009, Comanchero Motorcycle Club
The Comancheros
The Comancheros is a 1961 western Deluxe CinemaScope color film directed by Michael Curtiz and John Wayne based on a 1952 novel by Paul Wellman starring John Wayne and Stuart Whitman. When health troubles prevented Curtiz from finishing the film, Wayne directed the remainder of the movie, though...
and Hells Angels
Hells Angels
The Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is a worldwide one-percenter motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation. Their primary motto...
were involved in a clash at Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport may refer to:* Sydney Airport, also known as Kingsford Smith International Airport, in Sydney, Australia* Sydney/J.A. Douglas McCurdy Airport, in Nova Scotia, Canada...
. One gang member was beaten to death in plain view of witnesses at the airport, and police estimated as many as 15 men were involved in the violence. Police documents detail the brawl as a result of the Comanchero and Hells Angels Presidents being on the same flight from Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
. Four suspects were arrested as a result of the altercation.
Including two murders in the capital city, 4 people were killed in the space of a week in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
and in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. As a result of heightening violence, New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees announced the state police anti-gang squad would be boosted to 125 members from 50.
Clubs
Clubs in Australia include:- BandidosBandidosThe Bandidos Motorcycle Club, also known as the Bandido Nation, is a "one-percenter" motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate with a worldwide membership. The club was formed in 1966 by Don Chambers in Texas. Its slogan is We are the people our parents warned us about. It is estimated to have...
- The Bandidos are one of the “Big Four” gangs identified by the FBI. They have 19 chapters across Australia and between 250 and 400 members. One of the clubs that has actively recruited from ethnic groups in recent years.
- Coffin Cheaters - They have chapters in Western AustraliaWestern AustraliaWestern Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, VictoriaVictoria (Australia)Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, New South WalesNew South WalesNew South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and QueenslandQueenslandQueensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, as well as in NorwayNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. They have between 200 and 300 members.
- ComancheroComanchero Motorcycle ClubThe Comanchero Motorcycle Club is an outlaw motorcycle gang in Australia, with chapters in Strathfield and Erskine Park. The Commancheros are participants in the United Motorcycle Council of NSW, which has recently convened a conference aimed at addressing legislation aimed against the "bikie"...
- One of the oldest and smallest outlaw clubs in Australia, its headquarter are in Western SydneyWestern SydneyWestern Sydney is a major region of Sydney, Australia. It has a number of different definitions but one consistently used is the region composed of the 11 councils which until recently were all members of the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils:* Auburn Council* Bankstown City Council*...
. They have between 80 and a hundred members.
- Gypsy JokerGypsy Joker Motorcycle ClubThe Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club , or the Gypsy Jokers as they are called in Australia, are an outlaw motorcycle club that was originally formed in San Francisco, California on April Fool's Day, 1956...
- The Gypsy Joker MC, an American-formed club, are most notorious for the 2001 car-bomb murders of West Australian police senior investigator Don Hancock and Lawrence Lewis. They have between 200 and 300 members in Australia.
- Hells AngelsHells AngelsThe Hells Angels Motorcycle Club is a worldwide one-percenter motorcycle gang and organized crime syndicate whose members typically ride Harley-Davidson motorcycles. In the United States and Canada, the Hells Angels are incorporated as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation. Their primary motto...
- Originally founded in the US but now active worldwide. In Australia, they have 150-250 members and are allied with the Nomads.
- Nomads - The Nomads club has no website and is not as widely known as other clubs, but does have a significant presence in the press as an outlaw motorcycle club engaged in allegedly illegal activities.
- NotoriousNotorious (gang)Notorious is a gang based in Sydney, Australia. They are considered to be an outlaw motorcycle club however, not all members ride motorcycles. Its emblem features a turbaned skull brandishing twin pistols with "Original Gangster" beneath it, with the motto "Only the dead see the end of war"...
- The club Notorious, a recently new Middle Eastern gang, have started competing with Australian bikie gangs, in a turf war for drug sales. Notorious is reportedly using members of the Middle Eastern and Islander communities in Sydney, and may be wooing members of those backgrounds from other clubs. They have between 150-200 members.
- RebelsRebels Motorcycle ClubThe Rebels Motorcycle Club is an outlaw motorcycle club in Australia with around 70 chapters and 2,000 members nation-wide. This makes them the largest club in the country. It was founded by Clint Jacks in Brisbane, Queensland in 1969 and was originally named the "Confederates". Their insignia is a...
- The Rebels are the largest outlaw motorcycle club in Australia, and have 29 chapters. They are a more traditional club and are run by former boxer and founding member, Alex VellaAlex VellaAlessio Emmanuel "Alex" Vella , or The Maltese Falcon, is a Maltese-Australian businessman, former boxer and National President of the Rebels Motorcycle Club. Despite having lived in Australia since the 1960s, he is not a citizen of the country...
. They are by far the largest club in Australia with around 2,000 members.
Youth gangs
Youth Gangs have flourished throughout many of the large cities of Australia, especially MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
and Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. There are many suburban gangs throughout Melbourne involving clashes between North-West and South-East as well as ongoing battles in Melbourne's Western Suburbs. There are many other gangs evolving throughout the outer suburbs of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
as well. There have also been a few cases of Australian gangs imitating American street gangs such as the Bloods
Bloods
The Bloods are a street gang founded in Los Angeles, California. The gang is widely known for its rivalry with the Crips. They are identified by the red color worn by their members and by particular gang symbols, including distinctive hand signs...
with no affiliation to the original gangs. In most cases these minor gangs are formed by bored youth influenced by the American Hip Hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
scene. The internet has become a focal point for these gangs, posting pictures, post codes and sometimes even running a gang's personal website. Australian youth gangs grow in accordance to general population growth.
During the early 1990s, Melbourne youth gangs included: 3174, based around Noble Park and Springvale; Keyzy/Burra boys, based in Keysborough; LSC, based in St. Albans through to Taylors Lakes; The Coburg Boys, based in Coburg, 14K, based in Footscray; MC3, based in Dandenong South; Oakleigh Wogs, based in Oakleigh; MTS, based in Essendon; Springy Nips, based in Springvale and The Broady Boys based in Broadmeadows.
Current gangs in Melbourne include the Richmond based Yellow Klique, city based Central Crew, the western suburbs Brothers 4 Life and Young St Albans and Kings Park. Members from Yellow Klique and Central Crew had formed alliances and are currently at war with Brothers 4 Life. Born 2 Love, Vietnam Dragons and Kickback Krew are currently in alliance, do not fight but have fun and kiss. - This gang war has seen an increase in knife attacks amongst young Asian men as well as a rise in bottle and glass related assaults. These three gangs have shown to be extremely violent even in front of police and security. Their activity has gone from assaulting one another in the streets to fire bombing of rival's houses. In 2010, a Victoria Police task force headed by Acting Detective Inspector Dave de Francesco, named Task Force Echo, was formed to counter warring gangs.
Gangland culture in Brisbane and the surrounding areas has increased dramatically in recent years with respect to gang violence and behaviours in youths. Gangs in "crime hotspot" areas such as the Gold Coast and Western Brisbane has seen youth violence and disorderly conduct rise by 10% in the last two years, according to the Queensland Police Union. Gangs have been attributed to the increasing levels of youth violence and incarceration numbers in Queensland's south east. Gangs such as Butch Lesbian Soldiers (BLS), Village People and FLC have drawn comparisons to infamous gang cultures in areas such as Los Angeles and Moscow. However, Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson denies these suggestions of strong gang presence, saying, "Brisbane does not have crime gangs similar to Los Angeles ... There are groups of mainly young males who band together and become involved in criminal behaviour, but they are quite different from the criminal gangs that operate in the US." Commissioner Atkinson further stated the unfairness to attribute the increasing levels of youth violence and illegal activities with ethnically or culturally based gangs. In 2006, three youths were charged with assault following the attack on two other youths from a neighbouring , reported to be gang motivated school.
Further information
- "History of Gangs in Australia". ABC, Late night live. http://www.abc.net.au/rn/latenightlive/stories/2008/2288288.htm
- Silvest, John “Outlaw gangs make killing” The Age, 24 September 2006. http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/outlaw-gangs-make-killing/2006/09/23/1158431948594.html
- Preist, Tim “The rise of Middle Eastern Crime in Australia” http://www.australian-news.com.au/The%20rise%20of%20Middle%20Eastern%20crime%20in%20Australia.pdf
- Buttler, Mark "Neighbours fear gang violence will spiral into gun battles as secret police report exposes fears of open warfare" http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/secret-police-report-exposes-gang-fears-as-open-warfare-erupts/story-e6frf7jo-1225868879397