Premier Wade MacLauchlan held a joint news conference with RCMP and Charlottetown Police Thursday to raise awareness of the rapid and concerning growth of motorcycle gangs and clubs associated with the Hells Angels and Bacchus in communities across P.E.I.
Premier Wade MacLauchlan held a joint news conference with RCMP and Charlottetown Police Thursday to raise awareness of the rapid and concerning growth of motorcycle gangs and clubs associated with the Hells Angels and Bacchus in communities across P.E.I.
“It would be easy to dismiss these gangs as simple motorcycle clubs, and there certainly are law abiding motorcycle clubs in our province. But, make no mistake, the Hells Angels and Bacchus are criminal organizations that bring drugs and violence to the communities in which they establish,” MacLauchlan said.
In December, a Hells Angels hangaround club affiliated with the Ontario chapter of the gang opened in Charlottetown, which marks the first Hells Angels presence in P.E.I.
The competing Bacchus club has been in P.E.I. since 2012 and now has two “full patch” chapters in Alliston and Alberton.
In order to deter outlaw motorcycle gangs from further establishing themselves in P.E.I., the government and P.E.I.’s police forces have developed two joint resolutions.
The first will see the province taking legal steps to possibly ban gang colours in bars, make construction of fortified buildings illegal and regulate the sale of body armour.
The second resolution promises no public or financial support to members of motorcycle gangs involved in criminal activities.
Outlaw motorcycle gangs go to great lengths to establish themselves in communities, often as generous patrons to local businesses who also donate to non-profit organizations, the premier said. This is an effort to normalize their presence and to help gang-affiliated groups appear legitimate.
MacLauchlan is encouraging charities and non-profit organizations in P.E.I. to consider developing a code of ethics preventing them from accepting contributions from outlaw gangs and their members.
“It’s important that all Islanders realize that the presence of Hells Angels or Bacchus in our community is not normal and that we should not drop our guard,” he said.
“Organizations and businesses should be on their guard to ensure that their practices don’t facilitate the activities of gangs.”
RELATED: Hells Angels set up shop in a Charlottetown residential neighbourhood
RCMP Cpl. Andy Cook, the provincial outlaw motorcycle gang (OMG) coordinator for the Mounties, explained the difference between innocuous riding clubs and outlaw motorcycle clubs, noting that “1%” clubs refer to the one per cent of biker gangs who don’t feel the need to abide by the law.
The Bacchus club in Alberton was promoted to full one per cent status last weekend.
These gangs have an organized structure and many rules, which are enforced strictly and often by violence, Cook said.
But police in P.E.I. have noticed some of those rules being broken, with the clubs admitting large numbers of new members and promoting the status of their clubs more rapidly than usual.
“It seems to be quite accelerated, to be quite honest,” Cook said.
The reason, he says, is all about territory.
“We don’t want to end up with any violence here or competition over territory but these types of groups are territorial. Bacchus has been in P.E.I. longer than anybody; they’ve been here since 2012. Hells Angels have never had a presence here, now they do.
“To me that looks, from the outside looking in, like a little bit of competition going on here.”
This weekend the Atlantic Confederation of Clubs, which includes members of outlaw biker gangs, will gather at Hot Shots bar in Charlottetown for a meeting to discuss discrimination against bikers.
Cook says there will be a strong police presence to ensure the safety of the public.
“Not all these people commit criminal acts, but their membership supports criminal acts by reinforcing the ‘power of the patch,’” Cook said.
“If you truly just want to ride your bikes, then report members of those clubs that are involved in committing crimes.”
Police are also asking Islanders not to attend parties or purchase “support gear” that promotes “red and white” or “81,” as this is a means of supporting illegal activities.
