Denis O'Reilly: lifetime Black Power member on the Government's gang patch ban taking effect in the coming days

A longtime Black Power member says he'll be waiting to see how enforcement of the gang patch ban plays out from Thursday next week. 

Denis O'Reilly says the extensive preparatory meetings between gangs and police could mean it goes well. 

He says care is needed. 

"We need calm heads and steady hands and careful words, I think."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Police have announced Operation Nicol.

Speaker 2 (00:01):
This is an operation dedicated to enforcing the Gang Patch Band,
which kicks in next week. They have held and this
is the police that held hundreds of meetings about it already,
some of those meetings with gangs to discuss the band.

Speaker 1 (00:12):
Dennis O.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Riley is a lifetime Black Power member and with us. Now, Hey, Dennis,
have you been at any of these meetings? Yes, And
what happens at the meetings.

Speaker 3 (00:23):
Or the police did exactly what they said they did.
They advised people as to what was going to happen
and the approach that they were going to take. I
think it was a pretty good initiative and let's see
how things roll out. I mean, that was under the
leadership of the Commissioner Costa, and he's a man that

(00:45):
you're heavily criticized and said that, you know, he was
politicizing the police. I think what the current minister is
doing is politicizing the police. He's certainly shown as Colors
as a very competent Minister of Emergency Management. So we'll
see how it goes in the police role. So what Dennis, I.

Speaker 2 (01:06):
Mean, what I'm kind of confused about is what needed
to be discussed. I mean, surely the thing is the
band kicks in. If the cops see you with a
patch on, they take the patch off you. What else
do people need to know?

Speaker 3 (01:18):
Well, I suppose it's when the rules change in a
pretty dramatic way, and so you start to get clarity
if you're wearing it in the car, if you had
a tongue, if you're crossing the road, and all that
sort of stuff. So I mean it's pretty you know,
just a fundamental, good, good sort of exchange. I mean,

(01:42):
the police have invested heavily in this last well since
the since the two hoy raids, and building up a
rapport with pro social gang leaders and to the degree
making life as safe for all parties as possible.

Speaker 2 (02:02):
So what was the outcome, by the way, Dennis, I mean,
if you're wearing a patch in a car, does it
get taken off here?

Speaker 3 (02:08):
Yep?

Speaker 1 (02:09):
If you're wearing a patch crossing the road, does it
get taken off here?

Speaker 3 (02:12):
Yep?

Speaker 2 (02:13):
If you're by yourself, just loan dude on a motorbike
going down the motorway taken off here?

Speaker 3 (02:18):
Yep.

Speaker 1 (02:18):
Really it's quite hard out.

Speaker 3 (02:20):
Well, I mean, it is what it is, and God
damn it. It may work. You know, who knows. It's
a discontinuity. But I'm sort of with you know, mister
Carhill from the Police Association. I mean, you know, we
just don't know what's going to happen, and so you

(02:41):
know we need you know, calm, calm heads and steady
hands and careful words, I think, and let's just see
how this rolls out.

Speaker 1 (02:54):
Cool, Dennis, thanks for talking us through. It's a bit unpredictable,
as as much of politics at the moment. Appreciate at dinner,
So Riley, lifetime Black Power member. For more from Hither
Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to news Talks it'd be
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