SENIOR police tried to broker a peace deal between warring Hunter bikies but a truce was outright refused.
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Police claim the peace deal was discussed in a meeting between a Strike Force Darnay investigators and senior Nomads members after the March 16 firebombing of a motorcycle owned by Finks bikie Andrew Chambers.
According to documents tendered to the NSW Supreme Court, Nomads members offered Detective Inspector George Radmore a “guarantee” there would be no more violence towards the rival Finks until the two groups could meet.
However, hopes for a truce were scuttled two weeks later when police asked a senior member of the Finks whether he would be willing to meet with the Nomads to discuss a resolution.
“The member stated that he would never take part in such a meeting as he would never trust them,” Detective Inspector Radmore wrote.
He added: “The member was very aggressive in his attitude towards the Nomads. In further conversation with the member about how he saw an end to the conflict, the member stated that the only was for them to be locked up in gaol and he would never feel safe until they were, no matter what agreements were reached, as he did not trust them to honour the agreements.”
On the same day as that meeting, the documents state Mr Radmore made a phone call to Finks boss Andrew Robert Manners, who is in jail.
According to the police affidavit, Mr Manners wanted police to support his bail application so he could resolve the conflict, apparently stating he was the only Fink who could meet with the Nomads to end the feud.
The Police Commissioner is currently fighting in the Supreme Court for a Serious Crime Prevention Order to be placed on five members from each of the feuding clubs. The applications – labelled as “draconian” – and the first of their kind brought in NSW – are part of a major police crackdown.
The restrictions that could be imposed on the men include not being allowed to associate with each other, banned from pubs and clubs, banned from travelling in any vehicle from 9pm to 6am, and restricted from using encrypted communications like Wickr, Snapchat or WhatsApp.
They could also be restricted from owning more than one mobile phone, and must produce their phone and passwords to police upon request.
Mr Radmore claimed there was an “urgent need” for the order even if a temporary truce was reached.
“Gangs cannot choose when to uphold the law, or on terms that suit them. By their very nature OMCG [Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs] are outlaws, and proudly advertise that,” he wrote.
