Page 377 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 20 February 2018
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The ACT experiences low crime rates compared to other jurisdictions. The community has ACT Policing to thank for the key role it plays in keeping crime rates low. However, in recent years ACT Policing has seen an increase in criminal gang activity. The increase in criminal gang activity can be attributed to a number of members of the Rebels outlaw motorcycle gang—traditionally the only OMCG in the ACT—changing allegiances, or patching over, to the newly established chapter of the Comanchero OMCG in April 2014. In April 2016 several remaining Rebels members patched over to establish a chapter of the Nomad OMCG in the ACT.
The establishment of chapters of two new OMCGs in the ACT has caused increased tension between OMCG members. Unfortunately, the instability and tension created by changes in criminal gang membership pose a risk to public safety because of the use of violence by some gang members. While the violent criminal conduct of gang members is usually targeted at other gang members, at times community members may be involved. Bearing witness to criminal gang violence creates fear, apprehension and vulnerability in the community.
In mid-2017 ACT Policing investigated a number of criminal gang related incidents. At least eight violent incidents occurred in mid to late 2017, and they appear to be criminal gang related. The government understands the community wants the government to take action to prevent such incidents occurring. ACT Policing actively monitors criminal gang activity. In June 2014 ACT Policing established Taskforce Nemesis to track, disrupt and arrest members of criminal gangs involved in criminal gang activities. Since its establishment Taskforce Nemesis has been responsible for initiating 86 prosecutions against criminal gang members for a total of 262 offences, including drug trafficking offences, possession of illegal firearms, money laundering, extortion and serious assaults.
In August 2016 the government committed an additional $6.4 million in funding over four years to support Taskforce Nemesis to address criminal gang activity in the ACT. The additional funding tripled the size of Taskforce Nemesis on an ongoing basis. The funding allowed for two additional investigators, two additional intelligence officers, a forensic accountant, two additional investigators within the criminal assets investigation team, and one additional investigative assistant. The funding also supported the purchase of a range of physical and electronic capabilities for ACT Policing to investigate criminal gang related crime.
I am aware that the Canberra community is concerned about this activity, and I can ensure the community that the government takes criminal gang activity very seriously. The ACT government has continued to fight against serious and organised crime by pursuing considered and targeted responses to threats posed by this type of crime within the territory. This includes specific criminal offences to target the behaviour of organised criminal groups, developing cross-border criminal investigation laws and cooperation between ACT and federal law enforcement agencies.
The government has introduced a suite of laws to investigate serious and organised crime in the ACT. In 2017 the Legislative Assembly passed the Crimes (Police Powers and Firearms Offence) Amendment Bill 2017. The act strengthens
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