Fewer than ten people have contacted authorities with information about criminal motorcycle gangs in Canberra since September despite pleas from police, the prospect of $2000, and assurances of anonymity.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Attorney-General Simon Corbell and Chief Police Officer Rudi Lammers called upon Canberrans to provide information about gang members who may be involved in the sex and security industries, money laundering, extortion, firearms and drugs.
"We're asking the community to come forward with any information that it might have around the criminal activities of outlaw motorcycle gangs, report that information to Crime Stoppers, so Taskforce Nemesis can act on it," Mr Lammers said in September.
"Crime Stoppers has received nine calls from members of the public in regards to the campaign of which information relating to suspicious or criminal OMCG activities has been referred to Taskforce Nemesis for further investigation," said a police spokesman.
ACT Policing refused to comment on whether financial rewards had been issued but said the information provided had proved helpful.
"It is clear from the community support of Taskforce Nemesis and the subsequent search warrants that have been carried out that we have been able to apply pressure to those involved in organised crime, including OMCGs," he said.
"As a result of those search warrants a significant amount of illicit substances, which included cocaine, methamphetamine, cannabis and MDMA [ecstasy] were seized along with anabolic steroids, weapons, ammunition and a quantity of cash."
Police will continue to provide rewards to those willing to report suspicious activity involving bikie gangs.
"Our message is simple: anyone who chooses to participate, or become involved with OMCGs and their criminal activities should expect to be targeted by police and law enforcement agencies," said the spokesman.
"The public are our eyes and ears, so no matter how small or seemingly insignificant we urge them to continue to pass information on through Crime Stoppers."
Mr Lammers said there were tell-tale signs of outlaw motorcycle gang members, including the bikes they rode and their jacket colours.
"What's not so obvious is sometimes the day jobs that they have, the split lives that they lead, so people need to be quite aware that outlaw motorcycle gangs and in fact criminal groups generally can purport to be legitimate businesses when in fact they're not."
