Motorcycle gang Hardliners may come to an end. Justice wants to ban the club through the courts and that members do not come together or wear expressions pending that decision. There is said to be a ‘culture of violence, with reprisals’ in the motorcycle gang if you do not conform to it.
The Public Prosecution Service has just submitted a request to the Noord-Holland court. There is also a criminal investigation into the motorcycle gang, which was founded a few years ago.
In that study, founder of Hardliners Lysander de R. detained in jail. According to the Public Prosecution Service, he would plan new crimes from his cell that will be carried out by other members.
It would concern four incidents, including a series of explosions in West Friesland and Koog on the Zaan – although the judiciary does not want to confirm that yet. In that investigation they do report that there are still suspects from Alkmaarder (43), a man from Assendelft (39) and a 35-year-old man.
‘mandatory rules’
Since its foundation, MC Hardliners has been a thorn in the side of the justice system. They speak of a ‘culture of violence’ within the group with a hierarchy as in other motorcycle clubs. Members of banned motorcycle gangs would have joined.
“There are mandatory rules that members must adhere to. For example, there is a strict obligation of secrecy to the public, an omerta, and there is financial support for detained members.”
Violence would be normalised, carried out and encouraged within the club. “It is, as it were, in the DNA of the club. Members are expected to show a continued willingness to use violence and there may even be violent retaliation from the club if someone breaks the rules.”
Lysander de R. starts the motorcycle club in 2019 from prison. After all, he is already stuck. As president of the Haarlem chapter of the Hells Angels, he is held responsible for arson, extortion, possession of firearms and threats.
A report from 2021 states that Hardliners already has 22 departments with 200 members, mainly in North Holland: Haarlem, Hoorn, Alkmaar, IJmuiden, Hoofddorp, Den Helder, Amsterdam and Beverwijk. The police say that eighty members are linked to crime.
So now the court has been asked to ban and dissolve the motorcycle club. This follows proceedings against Hells Angels, Bandidos, Catervarius Brotherhood, No Surrender, Caloh Wagoh and Satudarah.
Such a civil procedure is particularly aimed at the public presence and intimidation associated with these ‘brands’, explained Arjan Blokland last month against NH out.
He is a professor of criminology and senior researcher in the field of outlaw motorcycle gangs. “If someone shows up on your doorstep wearing such a jacket, it is a lot more intimidating than a different jacket.”
‘Need a large file’
Justice states that this applies to MC Hardliners. “The intimidating and often violent way in which MC Hardliners manifest themselves in society and the way in which the club opposes – and even actively opposes – government scrutiny creates a culture of lawlessness.”
But a ban will not be granted very easily, says Professor of General Law Jan Brouwer.
“A ban is not a simple matter: there must be a substantial file of evidence”
To ban the Hardliners, the Public Prosecution Service must prove that either the criminal acts of the previously banned Hells Angels chapter Haarlem are being continued in this club, or that there is a culture in which crime is stimulated. “There must be a large file of evidence.”
According to him, it really needs to be proven that there is a structural pattern in the association of encouraging or actively tolerating criminal offenses. Brouwer: “Despite the fact that since 2014 the court has been a bit faster in complying with the OM’s request to ban motorcycle clubs, a ban is certainly not an easy matter.”
That request is currently with the District Court of Noord-Holland. It is not yet clear whether or when a decision will be made on this.
No gatherings
Until such a decision has been made, the Public Prosecution Service wants to ban members from wearing MC Hardliners logos, making statements on Facebook pages and organizing meetings. The court has yet to decide on that as well.
Lysander de R.’s lawyer was not yet available for comment.