Perth bikie wars: WA Police to be given sweeping new powers to keep guns out of bikie hands

Police will get sweeping new powers to keep guns out of the hands of bikies and other serious criminals after a spate of public shootings, headlined by the assassination of Rebels boss Nick Martin. Legislation to be introduced in State Parliament on Wednesday will create firearm prohibition orders, which have helped curb gun crime in NSW, Victoria and South Australia. Maximum jail terms for drive-by shootings will more than double and it will also become illegal to manufacture 3-D printed guns that are made of plastic but capable of firing live bullets. Under the changes, the Police Commissioner will be able to ban anyone reasonably suspected of posing a threat to life or property from holding a firearms licence, being in a property where guns are likely to be stored or near anyone who has a gun. Once an order has been served, police can stop and search that person and anyone in their company, as well as enter their home, car or workplace to search for illegal guns, without the need for a warrant. The orders would be applied for 10 years. If caught with an illegal gun, the prohibited person could face jail terms up to 14 years and fines up to $75,000. FPOs were recommended by WA’s Law Reform Commission five years ago and have been previously flagged by the McGowan Government, but are finally being introduced as part of a multi-pronged effort to disrupt organised crime. It comes as Rebel-turned-Mongol bikie David James Pye was charged this month with allegedly orchestrating the December 12 sniper murder of Martin, far left, at Perth Motorplex. Another man has pleaded guilty to pulling the trigger. Hells Angels sergeant-at-arms Dayne Brajkovich, who assaulted Martin in the weeks before the assassination, had his Ascot home targeted in a drive-by shooting in March. And in September, a man charged over a dramatic shoot-out and armed carjacking that closed Graham Farmer Freeway was revealed to be a Mongols associate. Police Minister Paul Papalia said the gun bans, expected to pass Parliament early next year, would initially be targeted at WA’s most high-profile bikies. Combined with new anti-consorting legislation that will ban bikie patches and tattoos in public from next month, life would soon be “even more uncomfortable” for gang members, he said. “This is another hammer falling on outlaw motorcycle gangs,” Mr Papalia said. “If you are a member of an OMCG, the aim is to encourage you to get out or get out of the State because WA doesn’t want to be an attractive place for you.” Even people without criminal records could be hit with a prohibition order if police believed they were associated with gangs. In Victoria, more than 1000 orders have been issued since 2015 and the scheme has been credited with a drop in shootings. In WA, bikies can already be refused a firearms licence if deemed to be not fit and proper. To get around that, gang members have enlisted their wives and children to submit applications in their names. Under the changes, juveniles could receive a FPO and anyone caught helping the subject of an order to get gun would break the new law.