SA:Rann steps up war on bikies

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2010
SA:Rann steps up war on bikies

By Thomas Conlin

ADELAIDE, Aug 5 AAP - South Australian Premier Mike Rann has declared a war of attrition
against bikie "pond scum".

Recent shootings in Adelaide streets have prompted an angry response from the premier
who announced the anti-gang taskforce would get an extra 10 officers.

"Basically we know that they're pond scum who kill each other and unfortunately innocent
people get in the way," Mr Rann told reporters in Adelaide on Thursday.

"We're going to keep coming at them and we're not giving up."

The additional officers will increase the number of anti-gang taskforce officers to
54 with a further 17 specialist staff.

Earlier this week there was a drive-by shooting in the north eastern suburb of Andrews
Farm linked to an ongoing feud between the Hell's Angels and the New Boys street gang.

Despite that incident on Tuesday, Mr Rann believes the taskforce is winning the fight
against the state's gangs.

"They're under huge pressure, we've seen a whole range of bikie leaders move interstate
to set up shop there because we're making it harder for them here," he said.

He admits there is "no silver bullet" to fix the problem.

But he said "we've seen drug bust after drug bust, raid after raid and arrest after
arrest" in the "war of attrition" against bikie gangs.

Attempts by the gangs to fight anti-gang laws have also failed to deter the premier.

"They were successful on one per cent of our new laws and there's new laws coming in
the next few weeks as well."

AAP tc/lk/jsh

KEYWORD: BIKIES

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