Prison bans Rebel members after recruitment attempt

File photo /Wanganui Chronicle

Three senior members of Australian gang the Rebel Motorcycle Club have been banned from visiting a Northland prison for attempting to recruit members.

The bans were put in place after telephone monitoring revealed they were trying to recruit at Ngawha Prison, its manager, Chris Lightbown, said today.

The bans came as police lead a multi-agency effort to stop the gang, Australia's largest outlawed motorbike gang, spreading to New Zealand.

"We are happy to support this by putting a stop to the gang recruiting prisoners," Mr Lightbown said.

"At the same time the ban means we are also avoiding the potential danger of having prisoners affiliate themselves with a gang which can lead to tensions within the prison environment."

"We know gangs take any opportunity to enhance their portfolio and ability to grow. In prisons they've got a captive audience," he said

The gangs targeted "vulnerable individuals" who believed being aligned to a gang made their time in prison easier.

While visits from friends and family were an important part of prisoners rehabilitation it was also important that prisons vetted the visiting process to ensure gang recruitment did not take place.

It is estimated that close to 30 per cent of New Zealand prison population are associated with a gang.

Mr Lightbown said he was aware the gang was targeting people outside of prisons as well.

Earlier in the month police made 31 arrests as part of an operation targeting the Australian gang.

Detective Superintendent Brett Kane, from the Organised Financial Crime Agency of New Zealand (OFCANZ), said the operation dealt a major blow to the New Zealand branch of the gang.

As part of Operation Stamp, more than 100 police officers executed more than 40 search warrants, seizing luxury cars, motorcycles, firearms and drugs.

The arrests included a number of Rebels members.

Palmerston North, Feilding and Horowhenua gangs bore the brunt of the operation but firearms and drugs were also recovered in Northland.

Police Minister Judith Collins said the operation would have a significant impact on the supply of methamphetamine, or `P'.

"The number of gangs involved shows they are putting aside their differences and working together in what is a highly lucrative, but evil, drugs franchise," she said.

- NZPA