Outlaw motorcycle gangs warrant concern, P.E.I. premier says

Premier Wade MacLauchlan talks to media after a news conference regarding motorcycle gangs at Holland College on Jan. 19. MacLauchlan told the media outlaw gangs threaten the public’s safety. Daniel Brown photo.   

By Daniel Brown

Jan. 19, 2017

            The P.E.I. government is taking steps to keep Islanders safe from outlaw motorcycle gangs, Premier Wade MacLauchlan said during a news conference at Holland College on Jan. 19.

        The conference was focused on addressing the Hells Angels, an outlaw motorcycle gang with a history of violence. Their increased presence on the Island warrants concern, MacLauchlan said.

       “It would be easy to dismiss these gangs as motorcycle clubs.”

       The provincial government plans to prohibit body armour sales. It also recommends that charities set a code of ethics for accepting donations from outlaw gangs, MacLauchlan said.

       “If charities accept donations [from outlaw motorcycle gangs], they may be supporting drugs in our community.”

       There have been many non-violent motorcycle clubs on the Island for years. While the Hells Angels are historically violent, they’re more recently involved with trafficking illegal drugs like cocaine, which could spread to the Island, MacLauchlan.

       “We must empower law enforcement so they can take necessary steps to protect islanders.”

       RCMP Cpl. Andy Cook is the outlaw motorcycle gang coordinator for P.E.I. He defined motorcycle groups as any group of motorcycle enthusiasts that are united under group rules.

       “Ninety-nine per cent of motorcyclists are law-abiding citizens, one per cent don’t feel they have to abide by laws.”

       Motorcycle group members use patches to show where they are from, to rank their power within the group, and to symbolize their group’s support for them.

       The Hells Angels recently bought a small building on 205 Fitzroy Street in Charlottetown as their hangout. They have visited P.E.I. increasingly these past years, thinking of it as a sanctuary because police don’t bother them on the Island, Cook said.

       “I don’t know about you, but that makes me mad.”

       Outlaw gangs claim that they are just motorcycle enthusiasts, but police want reports of any illegal behaviour citizens know of. The Hells Angels are used to getting along with citizens, as well as non-violent motorcycle clubs, Cook said.

       “Because they’re the big dog.”

       Deputy Chief Brad MacConnell said organized crime affects families in ways people don’t realize, especially when it comes to drugs. Outlaw gangs also utilize technology such as GPS and eTransfers to make drug trafficking easier, he said.

Police are drafting recommendations to the P.E.I Liquor Control Commission for dealing with outlaw gang members, MacConnell said.

        “Public safety isn’t solely a police responsibility.”