The ACT government will look at introducing new laws to target drive-by shootings, police minister Mick Gentleman has revealed.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The government will also consider bringing in new powers to secure crime scenes, after recent outlaw motorcycle gang shootings in Canberra's south exposed gaps in the territory's current laws.
"A recent incident where bullets were fired into the walls and windows of a house demonstrated a gap in the law in the ACT, as ACT Policing officers were unable to either enter the house or establish a crime scene until a search warrant was obtained," Mr Gentleman said.
"If the occupants of a house in this scenario subsequently tamper with evidence while police are obtaining a search warrant, this impacts on the ability of ACT Policing and forensic specialists to examine the scene."
A law targeting drive-by shootings would allow courts to hand down a serious penalty, regardless of whether an individual was targeted.
"This would make it clear to outlaw motorcycle gangs that the community rejects this behaviour," Mr Gentleman said.
Escalating levels of bikie violence in the city have seen houses peppered with bullets and firebombings in recent months.
Mr Gentleman said ACT Policing's Taskforce Nemesis had had some major wins recently, including arresting the Nomads president and a former high ranking office holder of the Rebels.
Police have said the outbreak of violence was prompted by a battle for supremacy in Canberra's south between the Nomads and Comancheros.
However Canberra Liberals' legal affairs spokesman Jeremy Hanson said it was the government's inaction on anti-consorting laws that had prompted the "explosion in bikie violence".
"ACT policing desperately needs adequate laws," Mr Hanson said.
"The government are not providing police with that important tool."
Mr Hanson said until the government "bites the bullet" and adopts laws consistent with NSW the problem would not go away.
However Mr Gentleman said the acting chief police officer had indicated he was satisfied with existing laws.
He said proposed anti-fortification laws and firearm prohibition orders would give police extra tools to disrupt outlaw motorcycle gang activity.
