ACT Chief Police Officer Scott Lee has sounded the alarm on the growing threat of outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs) in Canberra, revealing that the number of members and chapters is on the rise.

While the raw figures do not match those in Sydney or Melbourne, Lee stated there are currently five gangs in the ACT — including the Bandidos, Hells Angels, Finks, and Comancheros — with about 45 members and approximately 20 associates. "So that number has grown, which is a concern for us," he said.

The landscape has shifted dramatically in the past 15 years. For decades, the Rebels motorcycle gang was the sole dominant group in the territory. Since the early 2010s, most Rebels have "patched over" to other organisations, establishing permanent chapters in Canberra rather than using the city solely as a transit corridor.

Lee believes the primary reason for this growth is Canberra's status as a prosperous, growing city. "Where you have those prosperous communities, they're attractive propositions for investment, but they're also attractive propositions for crime," he said.

Researcher Associate Professor Mark Lauchs offered a complementary analysis, suggesting the increase is a spillover effect. He told the ABC the gangs are "increasing in Canberra, because it's much harder for them to operate elsewhere in the country," pointing to the success of law enforcement in other states.

This dynamic has placed the ACT at the centre of a debate over anti-consorting laws. Lee is a strong proponent of the measure, which would make it illegal for known gang members to gather in public. "We've seen the benefits of it in other jurisdictions where it has an ability to disrupt associations," he said.

However, Lee cautioned that the laws are not a "magical cure-all," noting that OMCGs "continue to exist in every jurisdiction." The push for the legislation has historically been a controversial issue in the ACT, raising questions about civil liberties and the balance of police power.