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Queensland veterans bikers group claims members pulled over by police Queensland veterans bikers group claims members pulled over by police
(about 2 hours later)
Members of a recreational bikers group made up of war veterans claim police asked them to lift their shirts so they could photograph their tattoos when they were pulled over on the Gold Coast.Members of a recreational bikers group made up of war veterans claim police asked them to lift their shirts so they could photograph their tattoos when they were pulled over on the Gold Coast.
The claims come as the Queensland police commissioner apologised for “inconveniencing” another recreational rider who claimed he was harassed by police and uploaded footage of it to YouTube.The claims come as the Queensland police commissioner apologised for “inconveniencing” another recreational rider who claimed he was harassed by police and uploaded footage of it to YouTube.
Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Motorcycle Club Queensland (VVVMCQ) club president, “Agro”, told Guardian Australia members of the group had “not been harassed too much” since the bikie laws came into effect.Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Motorcycle Club Queensland (VVVMCQ) club president, “Agro”, told Guardian Australia members of the group had “not been harassed too much” since the bikie laws came into effect.
“Tattoos are the biggest problem we’ve got,” he said. “We’ve got ex-Afghanistan, ex-East Timorese and ex-Navy [officers] in the group and they’ve been told to take their shirts off and have had photos taken.“Tattoos are the biggest problem we’ve got,” he said. “We’ve got ex-Afghanistan, ex-East Timorese and ex-Navy [officers] in the group and they’ve been told to take their shirts off and have had photos taken.
“You’ve got to comply or you’ll get arrested. I think it’s going too far.”“You’ve got to comply or you’ll get arrested. I think it’s going too far.”
Agro said the two VVVMCQ members were pulled over in early December. A police source told Guardian Australia police are entitled to ask people to show their tattoos but the person being asked has the right to refuse.  Agro said the two VVVMCQ members were pulled over in early December. The Queensland police service told Guardian Australia police are entitled to ask people to show their tattoos but the person being asked has the right to refuse. 
The police source said, "Police can ask a person to consensually lift their shirt and allow them to photograph any tattoos, again by consent.  The service said: "Police can ask a person to consensually lift their shirt and allow them to photograph any tattoos, again by consent. 
 "If a proceeding is commenced against a person for an identifying particulars offence, police have the power, under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act, to take the person’s identifying particulars, including images of tattoos." "If a proceeding is commenced against a person for an identifying particulars offence, police have the power, under the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act, to take the person’s identifying particulars, including images of tattoos."
The claims by the VVVMCQ, which had its clubhouse raided last year, come after a member of The Misfits, Jamie Evans, uploaded a video of himself being pulled over on his bike by police on the Gold Coast. It had been viewed more than 288,000 times as of Monday afternoon.The claims by the VVVMCQ, which had its clubhouse raided last year, come after a member of The Misfits, Jamie Evans, uploaded a video of himself being pulled over on his bike by police on the Gold Coast. It had been viewed more than 288,000 times as of Monday afternoon.
In the video, four officers from three police cars initially stand around him and say their names for the camera when he asks. One asks why he said before that he hates police and he replies he has been pulled over 21 times and issued with infringement notices twice, which he fought and won.In the video, four officers from three police cars initially stand around him and say their names for the camera when he asks. One asks why he said before that he hates police and he replies he has been pulled over 21 times and issued with infringement notices twice, which he fought and won.
“I’ve got no respect for police, I’m sorry,” Evans says in the video. A police officer questions why he is wearing a leather vest on a 30C degree day and asks him to identify the patches on it, which Evans refuses to do. When asked what The Misfits are, Evans replies: “a social motorcycle club”.“I’ve got no respect for police, I’m sorry,” Evans says in the video. A police officer questions why he is wearing a leather vest on a 30C degree day and asks him to identify the patches on it, which Evans refuses to do. When asked what The Misfits are, Evans replies: “a social motorcycle club”.
The 10-minute video ends when one of the police officers walks to his car to run the registration details of Evans’s motorcycle.The 10-minute video ends when one of the police officers walks to his car to run the registration details of Evans’s motorcycle.
Queensland police commissioner Ian Stewart said the video showed police carrying out a respectful and professional intercept.Queensland police commissioner Ian Stewart said the video showed police carrying out a respectful and professional intercept.
"Some good people in the community, including recreational motorcyclists, are going to be inconvenienced and I'm sorry if that's happened to Jamie," Stewart told ABC radio."Some good people in the community, including recreational motorcyclists, are going to be inconvenienced and I'm sorry if that's happened to Jamie," Stewart told ABC radio.
The Misfits are not named as a criminal organisation under the state’s bikie legislation.The Misfits are not named as a criminal organisation under the state’s bikie legislation.
Stewart said there was a good level of respect from both sides in the video, and the majority of Queenslanders supported the police crackdown.Stewart said there was a good level of respect from both sides in the video, and the majority of Queenslanders supported the police crackdown.
"I'm absolutely sure we're having a great effect against the criminals in our society who belong to criminal motorcycle gangs," he said."I'm absolutely sure we're having a great effect against the criminals in our society who belong to criminal motorcycle gangs," he said.
The state’s premier, Campbell Newman, said on Monday morning he does not like the government's anti-bikie laws, although he labelled them necessary and said they would be reviewed in three years.The state’s premier, Campbell Newman, said on Monday morning he does not like the government's anti-bikie laws, although he labelled them necessary and said they would be reviewed in three years.
"The parliament has to look at these laws [within three years] and decide if they should still be there," he told 4BC Radio."The parliament has to look at these laws [within three years] and decide if they should still be there," he told 4BC Radio.
"I don't particularly like them. That may surprise you. I have said this to a few journalists and various editors ... I've said, 'I don't particularly like having to do this'." Newman said he was on record, in 2012, rejecting calls to follow NSW and ban bikies from wearing club colours."I don't particularly like them. That may surprise you. I have said this to a few journalists and various editors ... I've said, 'I don't particularly like having to do this'." Newman said he was on record, in 2012, rejecting calls to follow NSW and ban bikies from wearing club colours.
"What changed is a woman being shot in Robina while going about innocent business on a weekend," he said. "What changed for me was seeing the signs of a riot on the Gold Coast on a Friday night. What changed for me is what happened in Sydney airport where they hunted a guy down to kill him in the airport.""What changed is a woman being shot in Robina while going about innocent business on a weekend," he said. "What changed for me was seeing the signs of a riot on the Gold Coast on a Friday night. What changed for me is what happened in Sydney airport where they hunted a guy down to kill him in the airport."
The wide-ranging legislation includes mandatory sentences of up to 25 years for being a member of a motorcycle gang listed as outlawed in the state and gives police greater powers to pull over and search suspected bikie members.The wide-ranging legislation includes mandatory sentences of up to 25 years for being a member of a motorcycle gang listed as outlawed in the state and gives police greater powers to pull over and search suspected bikie members.
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