the Hells Angels and the Comanchero - as the target for the first declaration.

the Hells Angels and the Comanchero - as the target for the first declaration.
Fifteen people have been charged over the brawl, including 12 members of the Comanchero and two Hells Angels.There are believed to be about 40 Hells Angels in NSW - but it is considered the most famous international outlaw motorcycle club. The Comanchero remain a local gang, with about 100 members in NSW. It was one of the gangs involved in the Milperra massacre in 1984.Only the Supreme Court can declare a club a criminal organisation, after an application by the police commissioner, which must also be advertised publicly.After a successful declaration police can apply to stop members associating with one another, and to seize assets of the declared club.
The government announced its plan for anti-bikie laws within days of the killing of Mr Zervas at the domestic terminal after a fight between members of two rival gangs. The laws were rushed through Parliament within weeks and later had to be amended because of concerns about how they would work.On the day the laws were passed police raided 31 properties linked to the Hells Angels and its members across Sydney, targeting its ''entire membership''.

South Australia was the first state to declare a bikie gang, the Finks, a criminal organisation last May. But in September its Supreme Court ruled that the laws were invalid. That decision will be reviewed by the High Court, but the state has continued to target the Rebels.The NSW government and police are keen to avoid having their attempts to declare the gangs criminal organisations defeated in the Supreme Court, or the legislation successfully challenged in the High Court.At least 13 officers and several lawyers have been preparing the application. The process involves gathering information to prove the targeted gang is involved in criminal activities.Initially the Government was aiming for the first application to be lodged before Christmas but it is understood legal concerns caused the delay.Laws allowing police to tap the phones of alleged members of a declared bikie gang were passed in the Federal Parliament last month.The legislation was criticised by lawyers and civil libertarians, who raised concerns it might not be restricted to bikie groups.After the introduction of the legislation, Sydney's bikie gangs hired a PR agency and formed their own lobby group, the United Motorcycle Council.
The bikie violence and drive-by shootings prevalent in Sydney in late 2008 have also since abated.A police spokeswoman said last night that police could not comment on the timing of a declaration or the group for whom it might be sought.

Posted in: the Hells Angels and the Comanchero - as the target for the first declaration.