Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs Related Crime - Research Project

Outlaw motorcycle clubs such as the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club (MC) and the Bandidos MC are an international phenomena. Having their origin in the United States, the scene spread to Europe and Germany in the 1980s. Since the very beginning, the clubs are not only known for their easy rider mentality but also for their involvement in criminal activities and violence. From the start on it has been very difficult to determine, whether rocker clubs are criminal organizations or if they simply attract members with a high affinity to crime and violence. Comprehensive, reliable data examining the phenomenon rocker and answering this question is still missing.

In this regard, the Criminological Research Institute of Lower Saxony (KFN) started a research project in January 2017, funded by the Internal Security Fund of the European Union, investigating rocker clubs and the broad topic of “rocker crime”. The focus is on outlaw motorcycle clubs, the victims of rocker criminality and the difficulties in the prosecution.

The contributed presentation will focus on first research findings and grant insight on the German outlaw bikers. Furthermore, the research project aims to give an analysis of police and judicial measures and offers the opportunity to develop new prevention strategies.