Pubdate: Sat, 22 Feb 2014
Source: Winnipeg Free Press (CN MB)
Copyright: 2014 Winnipeg Free Press
Contact: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/send_a_letter
Website: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/502
Author: Bruce Owen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?188 (Outlaw Bikers)

PROVINCE OFFICIALLY LISTS HELLS ANGELS AS CRIMINAL OUTFIT

IT'S official - the Hells Angels are a bona fide criminal 
organization in Manitoba. The designation of the Hells under the 
province's schedule of criminal organizations, announced Friday by 
Justice Minister Andrew Swan, makes Manitoba the first North American 
jurisdiction to deem the biker gang a criminal outfit.

While welcomed by law enforcement, the designation only affects 
prosecutions against gang members under provincial laws, not federal 
laws against guns, drugs and violent crimes.

Swan said it means Crown attorneys will not need to call expert 
witnesses to prove in each case the Hells Angels are a criminal 
organization when gang members and associates are being prosecuted 
under a provincial law.

Those laws include the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act, the 
Fortified Buildings Act and the Criminal Property Forfeiture Act, 
which is being used to seize the Hells Angels clubhouse on Scotia 
Street. That matter remains before the courts.

Swan said the hope is Ottawa follows suit, meaning a federal 
designation will let the Crown prosecute gang members on Criminal 
Code and drug offences under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act 
- - offences with which gang members are commonly charged and result in 
prison time.

"I believe they are interested," Swan said of Ottawa. "I expect they 
are trying to find the right way to go about doing that in a way that 
can be upheld in court."

While relatively quieter than in past years, the Hells Angels remain 
a central force in the province's criminal underworld, Winnipeg 
Police Service Insp. Rick Guyader said.

Illicit drug sales, drug production and extortion are some offences 
the gang routinely practises, he said.

"We've had successful prosecutions against the Hells Angels, but that 
doesn't seem to stop them," Guyader said. "They just get right back 
into business."

Swan said the biker club was given a chance to oppose the 
application, but didn't raise a peep.

RCMP Assistant Commissioner Kevin Brosseau said any legislative 
change that helps law enforcement fight organized crime, and 
streamlines prosecutions is welcome.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom