Perth police ordered the Gypsy Jokers Motorcycle Club club to dismantle its 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.
However, the Australian court 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.
Australian courts have rejected a bid by the Gypsy Joker motorcycle club to overturn a law which would force the fortifications around its
Perth compound to be dismantled
"The decision to legislate to give the power to dismantle fortification around motorcycle club's headquarters 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.
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.
However, the Australian court 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.
Australian courts have rejected a bid by the Gypsy Joker motorcycle club to overturn a law which would force the fortifications around its
Perth compound to be dismantled
"The decision to legislate to give the power to dismantle fortification around motorcycle club's headquarters 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.
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