Australia - POLICE say there is little they can do to thwart the behaviour of a bikie boss involved in the towing industry allegedly intimidating other operators if they don't complain. The Hells Angels stand accused of using standover tactics in the heavy haulage towing industry to force other operators to flee from crash scenes.
Truck drivers and industry figures have allegedly been intimidated by the gang's East County Sgt-at-Arms Peter "Skitzo" Hewat, who owns a towing company and uses club members wearing colours to attend incidents.
The Herald Sun understands friction has developed between Hewat and a leading industry figure, with the prominent bikie figure also collecting payment, arriving at the homes of truck drivers wearing his colours.
The Herald Sun was told there is no allocation system for the heavy haulage industry, as exists with towing of smaller vehicles.
This generated a climate in which intimidation could flourish, a source said. "He's monstering everybody," the source said. "It's what we had back in the '70s."
Today, police confirmed they had met with the management at the Melbourne towing company run by Hewat.
Det Supt Peter De Santo, while not naming Hewat, said the force had intelligence a sub-contractor with links to the outlaw gang were intimidating operators and working outside its defined geographical area.
But he said police could do to help other towing companies if they did not lodge complaints.
"We can't act on it if we haven't got complainants in this situation," he said.
"I don't know the individual personally, but what he is doing is creating a dangerous environment in which legitimate operators are trying to operate.
Supt De Santo confirmed there had been intelligence about intimidation, but not at crash scenes.
"We are releasing this information now because we're aware there are some incidents around this sub-contractor," he said.
"We would like people affected by him to come forward and be prepared to stand up.
"I think some people will come forward once we have a complaint and (we can) reassure the public we will act on the complaint in a confidential manner."
He said Chief Commissioner Ken Lay was serious about monitoring outlaw motorcycle gangs, referring to the raids bikie members in which their guns were confiscated.
Intelligence, however, did not suggest any other towing company were causing any issues or had links with outlaw bikie gangs.
"At the moment the incidents with the heavy haulage are basically confined around the metro area," he said.
"I believe he's been in the business for some time. I believe he hasn't had a presence in this state for some time but it's now come to our attention and we intend on dealing with it if we get the cooperation of the other industry operators."
Hewat previously earned a suspended jailed term for attempting to pervert the course of justice over a transport company Cadpro and a crane accident involving fellow Angel Stephen Rogers.
Wearing his Hells Angels T-shirt, he allegedly yelled obscene threats to a person who witnessed the accident.
Hewat is also known in the world of truck racing. (more)
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