Six motorcycle clubs forbidden, 23 new founded: ‘The attraction remains large’

The civil prohibition of six motorcycle gangs between 2017 and 2024 did not lead to a decrease in criminal offenses committed by individual members. This is evident from the report published this Monday Effects of the civil prohibition on ‘Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs’. However, the members of these motorcycle clubs became less visible in the public space – an important goal of the so -called ‘integral approach’ that has been running against the clubs since 2010.

The research was commissioned by the Scientific Research and Data Center (WODC), an independent research institute that falls under the Ministry of Justice and Security.

The researchers also state that the civil prohibition in practice does not mean that these motorcycle clubs cease to exist. The police still find indications of membership of prohibited motorcycle gangs with individual members. Think of people who are still driving around in Jacks from the Hells Angels.

Nevertheless, the researchers note that collecting information about outlaw motorcycle gangs Enjoy less priority at government agencies than, roughly, ten years ago.

The government

After a failed attempt in 2009 to ban the Hells Angels, the Public Prosecution Service will make a new attempt in 2017 to ban another motorcycle gang. This time it is about Bandidos MC Nederland.

The prohibition must put an end ‘to the inviolability’, from motorcycle clients, the researchers sign up from the mouth of an anonymous employee of the OM. “They walked around in the public space as if it were their domain and clearly radiated that they had a look at the government.”

In 2017, the Court in Utrecht Bandidos MC Nederland to prevent behaviors from “that pose a serious damage to our legal system” and “who disrupt society.” This is sensitive because it touches on the right of association, which is seen as an important democratic achievement.

Nevertheless, the Supreme Court confirms the prohibition in 2020. Although this highest court of law in the country that does not automatically lead the ban of Bandidos MC Nederland to a prohibition of self -employed chapters of the association.

After the ban of Bandidos Holland, the Hells Angels Holland, No Surrender and Satudarah will also be banned in 2019. This is followed by a ban from Caloh Wagoh in 2021 and of the hardliners in 2024.

Shattering

The researchers note in the report that the prohibition of the six motorcycle clubs does not mean that individual members are no longer concerned with crime. That statement is based on a sample of nearly five thousand people from a database compiled by the National Police about members of motorcycle gangs.

A comparison with a control group of male motorcyclists who were never members of a motorcycle gang shows that the civil prohibition of the gangs had no impact on the criminal behavior of their members. This involves organized crime, wealth crime, violent and traffic offenses (for example, driving under the influence).

Of the men from the sample, almost 90 percent were convicted of a crime within one of the above categories. 45 percent of this group has been involved in organized crime. They have on average almost eleven convictions on their criminal record per person. And after the civil prohibition, motorcycle members still often make criminal offenses than people who have not joined such a club.

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Criminal record

On the one hand, the prohibition has ensured that the number of members of the forbidden clubs is falling; On the other hand, the number of members of no -other clubs is increasing. Since the civil prohibitions, no fewer than 23 new clubs were founded between 2020 and 2023.

“The majority of the members of these new clubs have not been a member of an old, forbidden motorcycle gang,” said Sjoukje van Doors, researcher at the VU University among others. “That shows that the phenomenon outlaw motorcycle gangs still has a lot of attraction. “

Police figures show that members of new, non-prohibited motorcycle clubs were also remarkably often involved in criminal offenses. For example, more than 90 percent have a criminal record and more than 40 percent have been involved in organized crime.

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