Police set to enforce bikie ban

The Comanchero motorcycle club could be outlawed by a court ruling. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - It's almost a year since travellers at Sydney's domestic airport watched in horror as a violent brawl between rival motorcycle gangs left one man, Anthony Zervas, dead in the Qantas terminal.

Within weeks of the incident, a year ago next Monday, new laws had been rushed through the New South Wales Parliament, and now police are preparing to make their first application to have one of the gangs declared a criminal organisation.

Their first target is expected to be either the Hells Angels or the Comanchero, the two clubs involved in the airport brawl, according to yesterday's Sydney Morning Herald.

Zervas's brother, Peter, is one of three Hells Angels who have been charged with riot.

Ten members of the Comanchero, a local gang, have been charged with murder, while two others had murder charges against them dropped a fortnight ago in exchange for pleading guilty to riot and affray.

In order for a club to be outlawed, the Police Commissioner has to apply to the Supreme Court, supplying evidence of its criminal activities. If the application is successful, police can prevent members from associating with each other, and can seize the club's assets.

In South Australia, legislation to ban "bikie gangs" was declared invalid last year.

In NSW, federal laws allowing police to tap the phones of outlawed club members have been criticised by civil liberties groups.

The Comanchero, one of the gangs involved in the 1984 Milperra Massacre, has about 100 members in NSW, while the Hells Angels are believed to have about 40.

Following the recent crackdown, Sydney's clubs engaged a PR agency and formed a lobby group, the United Motorcycle Council. They also appointed a spokesman, named Ferret.

A police spokeswoman said yesterday: "Obviously police have been working towards making this application but we're not making any formal statement about the timeframe or any particular group being considered."