Cops want Federal anti-biker help in South Australia Monday, 10 November 2014 South Australian police have asked the Federal Government for $10 million to establish a strike team from the National Anti-Gang Squad in South Australia. If approved, police will form a 15-strong team — of four federal police and 11 SAPOL officers — in Adelaide, with additional equipment and surveillance support. The team would provide support for SAPOL’s anti-biker detectives within the Serious and Organised Crime Branch. Teams are already operating in WA, NSW, Victoria and Queensland. Assistant Commissioner Paul Dickson confirmed he had applied for funding. The team would operate within the Federal Government’s National Anti-Gangs Squad model. SA already has a NAGS federal police liaison officer embedded within SOCB — a move the police say that proved crucial in smashing a Malaysian-based crime syndicate with alleged links to motorcycle clubs in SA. Police on Thursday revealed four Finks and two Rebels members were among 16 people arrested in SA as part of the joint operation. The NAGS officer played a key role in liaising with Malaysian police and the Singapore Central Narcotics Bureau. Mr Dickson said while SAPOL had a long history in managing organised crime, there were other benefits in having an Adelaide strike team. “If we had the same resources from a NAGS capability as the other jurisdictions, we could do a lot more which would make the SA community even safer,’’ he said. “My view is that SA should be treated the same as the other jurisdictions.’’ Federal police Adelaide Commander Matt Varley said having the NAGS liaison officer embedded with SAPOL had “worked extremely well’’.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 12:24:02 +0000