Police agencies across Prince Edward Island are working on initiatives that would ban members of outlaw motorcycle clubs from wearing club colours and clothing from businesses.
RCMP Cpl. Andy Cook, who is the provincial outlaw motorcycle club co-ordinator, said Thursday they are exploring a “no club colours, no club clothing” and a bar watch program, similar to actions other provinces have taken.
“I am working on that right now,’’ Cook said. “We are exploring the bar watch program as well.’’
Some provinces have Liquor Control Acts that ban the wearing of biker colours in bars. That doesn’t exist in P.E.I., but it was discussed in 2017.
Cook heads up what he calls a joint crime suppression team, which includes the RCMP, as well Charlottetown, Summerside and Kensington municipal police forces.
Cook said some provinces have a bar watch program, which allows bars to form partnerships with area businesses that would entail banning members of outlaw motorcycle clubs from clubs as well as known drug dealers and people who have a history of violence.
The “no club colours, no club clothing” program has been implemented in some communities in Ontario, he said. It exists in the form of a partnership between local police and business owners who voluntarily sign up. It allows police to enter the business and tell people who are wearing outlaw motorcycle club colours or other street attire to leave.
Cook, who also leads the drugs and organized crime awareness service on P.E.I., said there have been incidents on P.E.I., especially in the past year, involving outlaw motorcycle club members at local bars or establishments, especially in the Charlottetown area, that can be traced directly back to the wearing of biker colours and vests with membership patches on them. He added “violent contact’’ can be initiated by either a member of an outlaw motorcycle club or the public.
“They do attract violence. It’s well established across the country that we have different motorcycle clubs in conflict with each other simply over the patches on their backs. And, then you throw alcohol in the mix, we have people that will be out at establishments and may decide they want to cause conflict with a member of an outlaw motorcycle club (member).’’
Cook and other members of his suppression team have witnessed incidents at bars over the past year, even when they’ve been in uniform.
“Personally, I’ve been inside bars . . . where conflict has happened right in back of us while we are in the bar. We’ve had incidents happen right in front of us.’’
Cook said there are establishments in Charlottetown that are already taking action, having implemented dress codes that ban anyone who wears outlaw motorcycle clothing of any kind.
Cook said there are currently incidents under investigation. He is asking anyone who has been assaulted, threatened or intimidated by a member of an outlaw motorcycle club to contact the nearest police detachment.
“This shouldn’t be going on in our establishments; it shouldn’t be going on anywhere on Prince Edward Island. And we’re not going to accept it as police officers here,’’ Cook said, pausing to stress those last few words.
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Source: Guardian