The Outlaws Motorcycle Club wants to hold the Rock and Blues Custom Show at Catton Hall, near Walton on Trent.attacks between warring biker gangs could pose a 'life-threatening risk' to the South Derbyshire public if a rock festival is given the go-ahead, police have claimed.However, police fear the event could be targeted for a retribution attack after seven Outlaws were charged with the M40 motorway murder of Gerry Tobin a full 'patch' member of the Hells Angels. Mr Tobin was shot in the back of the head as he left the annual Hells Angels' Bulldog Bash festival, in Warwickshire, in August last year.Police fear that if licensing bosses give the green light to the Catton Hall event - scheduled to take place from July 24 to 26 - members of the public could be put in serious danger.In a report to go before licensing bosses next week, a spokesman for Derbyshire Constabulary says: "Police do not believe that the public safety can be ensured should the event take place.
"The Rock and Blues Custom Show 2008 is an event of such significance to the Outlaws MC that it represents the most desirable target for a revenge attack by Hells Angels MC."As the Outlaws MC's equivalent to the Bulldog Bash, the 2008 show is the first to have taken place after Tobin's murder, and therefore represents the first suitably high-profile opportunity for revenge.
"The positioning of the site of the licensed event creates a heightened risk to the public in the event of gang-related violence."The area of South Derbyshire has many narrow lanes, and were an incident to take place, there is a substantial risk of harm to members of the public."From their enquiries over recent months, the police also believe that serious organised crime may be being planned during the event, as part of the national and international 'business planning' of the Outlaws Association and Outlaws MC.
"In those circumstances, Derbyshire Constabulary would not enter into an agreement to police and protect their activities."He said there were "no conditions which could be placed upon the licence which would, in the opinion of Derbyshire Constabulary, ensure the public would be safe".
The Outlaws, Hells Angels and Bandidos are the biggest of the so-called '1percent-er' motorcycle clubs in the world.
In January, three Outlaws members were attacked by a gang of Hells Angels armed with machetes at Birmingham Airport - in full view of passengers and children.
One of those arrested, Neil Bissell, the deputy organiser of the Bulldog Bash, remains on police bail.
Closer to home, members of the Outlaws - who are rumoured to have a 'clubhouse' in the Waterloo Stret area of the town - are believed to have been behind the stabbing of a 39-year-old man outside Burton's Abbey Inn, in January, 2006.
However, despite the susbsequent arrests of three men and a woman in connection with the knife attack, no charges were ever brought.Simon Covell, from event organiser One Percent Entertainment, says the Outlaws are 'fully committed' to ensuring the security of the bash, citing risk assessments which have been carried out.
However, the police spokesman says: "It is a matter of official record that over many years, '1percent-er' motorcycle clubs have been actively engaged in organised crime, including murder, extortion, robbery, drugs and firearms.
"Many of the violent incidents involve revenge attacks on rival gangs and retaliation is undertaken on a global scale."In order to appreciate the potentially life-threatening risk to members of the public in South Derbyshire, it is necessary to understand the history of the motorcycle clubs and the intense rivalry and hatred that exists between them."When respective motorcycle clubs hold major events, these are likely to attract revenge attacks with the most impact."The history of ingrained hatred between the Outlaws and the Hells Angels dates back to 1969, when an Outlaw raped the wife of a rival gang member.
A decision on the premises licence will be made during a meeting of the council's licensing sub-committee on Wednesday, May 7.