The State Government has taken a major step forward in its fight against serious and organised crime, declaring a known club house of bikie group the Descendants as a prescribed place.

South Australia Police advised the premises in Pooraka had been regularly frequented by members of the Descendants and their associates.

Declaring the location as a prescribed place means that any participant in a criminal organisation who enters – or attempts to enter – the property could face up to three years in prison.

It’s the first declaration of a property since reforms to the Government’s anti-bikie laws prompted by the High Court challenge against the declaration of the Cowirra-based properties known as Ponde as prescribed places last year.

The decision to declare the Pooraka property was based on advice from South Australia Police and is aimed at disrupting both meetings and other activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs at that address.

Quotes

Attributable to Peter Malinauskas

Outlaw motorcycle gangs including the Descendants are purveyors of human misery.

Violence and drug trafficking by bikies cannot be tolerated in our state, and my Government is continuing to do all in its power to disrupt these criminal enterprises.

Only last year, we took swift action to ensure we could continue to ban bikies from gathering in club rooms, when the High Court struck down regulations made by our predecessors.

I thank SA Police for their tireless efforts to keep South Australians safe.

Attributable to Kyam Maher

This is a significant, effective measure we can take to combat organised crime and support SA Police in their vital work in this area.

Successive Labor governments have worked tirelessly to wipe out bikies in South Australia. Just last year we legislated at lightning speed to ban bikies from gathering at prescribed places, after the High Court struck down regulations made by the previous Liberal government.

The threat posed by bikies remains as prevalent as ever, and we are committed to doing everything in our power to disrupt this despicable criminal activity and keep our state safe.

Attributable to Deputy Police Commissioner Linda Williams

This declaration request was made based on evidence and intelligence compiled by law enforcement agencies over a lengthy period.

The Descendants are considered a high risk in the serious and organised crime sphere and as such, represent a significant risk to community safety.

Many of its members and associates have a documented history of violent offending, involvement in serious criminal offending, including the trafficking of illicit substances such as methamphetamines.

The declaration of the Pooraka property as a prescribed place is designed to disrupt the activities of the gang and reduce the opportunity for criminal behaviours that place the community at risk.

This legislation has been effective in exposing the meeting places of OMCGs, reducing their opportunities to stockpile drugs or weapons and generally congregate to plan and engage in organised criminal activities.