VIPER bites organised crime

Editorial and photography: Danielle Ford

When hundreds of bikies rolled into Ballarat for a national ride, it wasn’t just local officers and Victoria Police’s dedicated outlaw motorcycle gang team, Echo Taskforce, waiting for them.

Also on the ground was the organisation’s newest tool in the fight against serious and organised crime – VIPER Taskforce.

The team of more than 80 members can be deployed anywhere in the state and provides support to specialist investigation units and regional police for investigation and enforcement purposes.

With Echo Taskforce intelligence indicating there would be about 350 bikies attending this particular national run late last year, VIPER was called upon to run a vehicle checkpoint, where every bikie taking part in the run would be photographed and ID checked. Random drug and alcohol tests were also conducted.

With both investigative and tactical members in the taskforce, VIPER can step in and manage these checkpoints, allowing Echo Taskforce and local police in particular to keep resources focused on regular operations.

Detective Senior Sergeant Leigh Howse, who heads the investigative section of the VIPER Taskforce, said these checkpoint operations were a vital tool in the fight against organised crime.

Members from the VIPER Taskforce were out in force at a recent national bikie run in Ballarat to provide support to regional and specialist police.

Photo: Danielle Ford

“We provide security at the site and process each club member through the checkpoint, taking their photo and details,” Det Sen Sgt Howse said.

“This is an important intelligence-gathering exercise as we are able to get up-to-date records of club members along with their addresses.”

The team's focus goes well beyond outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Since launching in July 2022, VIPER has made some serious waves to disrupt criminals committing serious and organised crimes.

Detective Inspector Craig Darlow heads the taskforce – comprising police from a wide range of specialist roles – and said the team is in a unique position to target criminals from every possible angle.

“We’ve got members with backgrounds in financial crime, criminal proceeds, intelligence, road policing, tactical policing, family violence, drugs, firearms and more,” Det Insp Darlow said.

“We can draw upon all that specialist knowledge so that when we go after criminals, we can throw everything at them.”

The agile nature of VIPER is another strength according to Senior Sergeant Warren Chapman, who looks after the tactical side of the team.

Photo: Danielle Ford

In its first six months of operation, the taskforce was deployed to more than 40 regional jobs across the state.

“We’ve been able to switch to a more proactive policing approach, with a lot of our work being around enforcement powers, as opposed to being reactive and waiting for something to happen,” Sen Sgt Chapman said.

“Regions and other crime units will come to us when they have an area or crime theme they need assistance with.

“From road policing enforcement to serving Firearm Prohibition Orders (FPOs) and conducting compliance checks, we can saturate the area and make a hostile environment for criminals to operate in.

“Not only does this take pressure off local resources, but it also helps them in the future through the intelligence we gather and provide them with during these targeted operations.”

Det Sen Sgt Howse reinforced the impact these targeted operations were having on organised crime groups.

“We’ve processed 159 offenders for charges ranging from assault to deception, drugs trafficking and possession, handling stolen goods, theft of motor vehicles, right through to weapons, explosives and firearm possession,” he said.

“We’ve got a wide range of legislation at our disposal that we can use to target these individuals from any and all angles.

“The results speak for themselves.”

In addition to FPOs, the taskforce can also use search powers under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act, apply for search warrants in short periods, use warrants under the Firearms Act and enforce bail conditions.

VIPER also creates headaches for criminals by targeting them for road policing offences, no matter how minor.

The VIPER Taskforce management team (from left) Det Insp Craig Darlow, Det Sen Sgt Mick Dwyer, Det Sen Sgt Warren Chapman and Det Sen Sgt Leigh Howse

Photo: Danielle Ford

In its first six months, VIPER arrested 242 people and charged 159 of them with 564 offences.

Also in this period, the team seized 33 firearms, more than $990,000 in cash and impounded 42 vehicles.

These are figures that Det Insp Darlow said bikies and heads of criminal groups are taking notice of.

“We’ve had reports from members that when they attend jobs the offenders will comment ‘Oh you’re that VIPER team aren’t you?’,” Det Insp Darlow said.

“There’s almost an expectation in these organised crime groups now that if they’re subject to some sort of enforcement action, they’re going to get a visit from the VIPER Taskforce.

“We served 33 FPOs in six months (to January this year) and because of this, a lot of our higher profile criminals are not carrying firearms because they are aware that we could potentially turn up at any time.”

Det Insp Darlow said the taskforce will continue to create a harsh environment for criminals and will continue to dish out punishment for everything from not wearing a seatbelt to carrying loaded handguns.

“We want to make a hostile environment for these serious and organised crime groups, to disrupt and dismantle them,” he said.

“Organised crime syndicates are ruthless and relentless and we will continue to be the same in policing them so that we can reduce crime overall and make our community safe.”