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NSW cops work with Qld to warn off bikies

A NSW task force is back from the state's northern border, after finding no immediate signs that bikies are fleeing Queensland's tough new laws.

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Source: AAP


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NSW police are working with their Queensland counterparts to make sure bikies from the northern state don't try to flee south across the border to escape tough new laws.

Ten officers from NSW's Strike Force Raptor had recently been sent to Tweed Heads to gather intelligence, a NSW police spokesman said.

"NSW officers had travelled there recently and conducted proactive work," he told AAP.

The taskforce had since returned and there was no immediate suggestion of "a wholesale move to NSW" by Queensland bikies, he said.

There have been reports that Queensland bikies are looking to establish chapters as far away as Perth to escape the sunshine state's clampdown on criminal motorcycle gangs.

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Queensland's bikie taskforce is said to be investigating reports some Bandidos are setting up a chapter in the West Australian capital.

It's also been reported three other clubs on the Gold Coast - the Finks, Rebels and Nomads - have closed their clubs and are moving interstate to escape the crackdown.

Earlier, NSW Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis said the Strike Force Raptor officers were working with Tweed Heads police and officers from Queensland's Taskforce Maxima.

The move was to "make sure we get the message out to them `do not come into our state'," Det Supt Katsogiannis told the Nine Network.

However, he said Queensland's tough new anti-bikie laws were driving gang members underground.

"We've had large patching over now of the Finks in NSW, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia into the Mongols, which is a international outlaw motorcycle gang," he said.

Mr Katsogiannis says there's a simple message for bikies headed to NSW.

"Keep out of NSW otherwise we'll be there watching for you," he said.

Queensland Police Minister Jack Dempsey says he will discuss the bikie problem with his counterparts from other states during a meeting next month.


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