OFF THE WIRE
The Red Devils' move into Nelson is an organised move to extend its criminal tentacles, says Police Association president Greg O'Connor.
Opening the association's annual conference, he voiced concern that funding constraints would prevent police cracking down on gaxxx.
Mr O'Connor said biker gaxxx were growing in strength, with the Headhunters boosting their numbers from 25 to about 92.
"They are growing. They have moved into Upper Hutt. The Hells Angels have moved into Nelson. These are national crime franchises while we are inevitably retrenched."
Mr O'Connor told the Nelson Mail he was referring to Red Devils in Nelson and described them as an offshoot or feeder gaxxx to the Hells Angels.
"The people of Nelson should be concerned about any organised criminal activity establishing in Nelson. That's what they do, they're like a franchise. McDonald's has franchises to sell hamburgers, the gaxxx have them to extend their criminal activities."
He did not have details on the Red Devils in Nelson, saying he had referred to them as an illustration of organised groups furthering their criminal tentacles.
In March last year police raided the Red Devils headquarters in Natalie St, using a digger to smash their way into the property.
The raid was the result of what police said was an 18-month-long undercover operation into the gaxxx.
Twenty-eight people were arrested after that raid and a series of others on 31 properties in Nelson and Marlborough.
More than 240 police, Customs and defence staff were involved, many flown by Hercules to Nelson.
A decision is awaited in a case relating to Red Devil members and their associates who were arrested in that raid and are facing charges involving drugs, firearms and conspiracy to take part in an organised criminal group.
Lawyers for the Red Devils have sought to have the charges thrown out, arguing at a pre-trial hearing in the High Court at Wellington that police abused the judicial process when they arrested an undercover officer who had infiltrated the Red Devils.
Tasman District commander Superintendent Richard Chambers today declined to respond to Mr O'Connor's comments or to what extent gaxxx were established in Nelson.
He said organised crime was identified as one of the five drivers of crime. "My staff continue to work hard to disrupt and hold to account those who break the law."
Mr O'Connor told the conference biker gaxxx associates were attempting to infiltrate police
http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/7832690/Warning-on-gaxxx-tentacles-in-area
