as posted on ABCnews
The Gypsy Jokers Motorcycle Club has lost its High Court challenge to a West Australian law intended to prevent fortification of premises.
In 2004, police ordered the club to dismantle its Maddington clubhouse fortifications, which include a concrete front wall, surveillance cameras and modified doors.
The club said the security was needed in the area where the burglary rate is high.
The Gypsy Jokers argued that the WA Corruption and Crime Commission Act breached the Constitution by preventing the club from gaining access to the evidence police relied on to make the order.
The WA Corruption and Crime Commission Act was passed in 2003 after the car bomb murders of former detective Don Hancock and his companion.
However, the High Court has today upheld the state law.
The State's Attorney-General, Jim McGinty, says he pleased with the High Court's rejection of the Gypsy Jokers' legal challenge.
Mr McGinty expects police will make full use of the legal resources available to them.
"The decision to legislate to give the power to dismantle fortification around bikie head quarters which they hid behind in order to escape the full effect of the law, has now been upheld as being valid" he said.
"There's now no reason why that law cannot be invoked against outlaw motorcycle gangs."
Police say despite the High Court decision they can not tear down the fortifications just yet.
Deputy Commissioner Murray Lampard says the club's application for a review of the fortification removal notice will go back before the Supreme Court and police must wait for the outcome of that hearing before they can take any action.
as posted on ABCnews
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