Bikie gangs enforce a strict code of silence, treat women as property and use a secret underworld language, a court dossier reveals.
A 400-page document prepared by police for court proceedings over an explosive Hunter Valley turf war between the Nomads and Finks provides a rare and detailed insight into gang life.
It reveals how bikies claim ‘ownership’ over their wives and girlfriends who can never become gang members themselves.
Revelations: Bikie gangs enforce a strict code of silence, treat women as property and use a secret underworld language, a court dossier reveals. Pictured: Members of the Finks
Some are even ‘branded like dogs’ such as the girlfriend of a Coffin Cheaters gang member whose back bears a tattoo reading: ‘The Property of Mark Hinchcliff’.
One girlfriend of a Life and Death gang member wears a jacket reading: ‘Property of Steve’.
‘It is my experience that women are generally treated as secondary to the organisation, members and motorcycles,’ Detective Sergeant Groenewegen writes in the report.
There is a hierarchy among the bikie women, with an Old Lady – a wife – at the top and strict rules on when a woman can be courted after finishing a relationship with a gang member and ceasing to be ‘off limits’.
The report details a rife culture of domestic violence, which often goes unreported as women are too scared to speak out.
A 400-page document prepared by police for court proceedings over an explosive Hunter Valley turf war between the Nomads and Finks provides a rare and detailed insight into gang life. Pictured: Bikie vests
The report reveals how bikies claim ‘ownership’ over their wives and girlfriends who can never become gang members themselves. Pictured: Inside the Finks Riverstone clubhouse
It reads: ‘It is acceptable to assault or otherwise control women who are of secondary concern and status.’
The document, seen by The Daily Telegraph, also details how a ‘code of silence’ makes shootings, murders and violent assaults extremely difficult for police to solve as members fear punishment and dishonour for talking to detectives.
It then reveals how bikies use a secret underworld language when discussing illicit activities.
They use the number 13 – which represents the letter M – to signify the word motorcycle or methamphetamine, the report says.
Members also frequently use acronyms such as FTW – ‘f*** the world’ – or EFO – ‘everyone f*** off’.
The report explains how a new member enters a gang as a ‘nominee’ and has to do ‘menial duties’ for a senior before earning the right to wear part of the gang’s ‘patch.’
The dossier reveals how bikies use a secret underworld language when discussing illicit activities. Pictured: Bikie jackets
The Newcastle chapter of the Nomads, which is allegedly part of escalating violence between rival bikie gangs around the city, north of Sydney
These can include guarding the clubhouse and checking CCTV and alarm systems in case of attacks from rivals.
This process continues for up to two years before the member is voted in and can wear the full patch.
Once a Finks member has signed up, he can’t leave unless he ‘surrenders’ a motorbike or pays $10,000, according to the dossier.
The report also claims that gangs have begun to stockpile more guns for upcoming ‘inter-gang conflicts.’
The dossier was prepared as part of a police bid to stop five high-ranking Finks and five Nomads from driving at night, entering licensed premises and using encrypted communication platforms including WhatsApp, Snapchat, Wickr and Hushmail.
The intense measures – never before imposed on bikies – are part of a desperate police attempt to stave off a war between the two gangs in the Hunter region of New South Wales after a spate of recent shootings.
Giving evidence in the NSW Supreme Court on 29 March, Nomads national president Dylan Patrick Brittliffe (pictured) said there had been no problems between the gangs for more than a year
Left leaving court: Nomads Newcastle leader Bradley Bowtell. Right: Nomads National president Dylan Patrick Brittliffe with a glamorous blonde
Entering court: Nomad Kane Benjamin Tamplin leaves court with a glamorous blonde on 29 March
Giving evidence in the NSW Supreme Court last month, Nomads national president Dylan Brittliffe said there had been no problems between the gangs for more than a year and that he had no idea who was behind attacks against Nomad members.
The restrictions would include not being allowed to enter any licensed premises in NSW or travelling in cars at night time over the next 12 months.
The group would be forced to hand their mobile phones over to police and reveal passwords upon the command of officers.
The restrictions can be imposed on anyone regarded to be ‘involved in serious criminal activity’ – even if they have not been convicted.
The orders would be obtained under similar legislation applied to suspected terrorists.
Justice David Davies is expected to make his decision in the NSW Supreme Court in the coming weeks.
Police have established Task Force Darnay in response to recent violence and have shut down bikie clubhouses across the Hunter Valley region