GOVERNMENT ORDERS HELLS ANGELS INSIGNIA REMOVED FROM
NANAIMO CLUBHOUSE

In a move designed to "protect" the Nanaimo's Hells Angels clubhouse
from theft or vandalism, the provincial government has ordered that
all signs relating to the group be removed from building's exterior.

Police arrived on scene last week to board up the signs and remove the
notorious skull-and-wing insignia from the front of the building.

The Hells Angels have been in Nanaimo since 1985 and are one of seven
recognized chapters in B.C.

Metal fencing preventing anyone from entering the property was
installed in November and all windows have been boarded up.

The removal of signage was a "precautionary" step, said a ministry
spokesman in the department of Public Safety and Solicitor-General's
civil forfeiture office.

No vandalism or theft has occurred since the province took control of
the building on Nov. 9, when about 50 heavily armed police officers
were called in to assist agents from B.C.'s Solicitor-General's office
in seizing the property under the province's Civil Forfeiture Act.

The provincial director of civil forfeiture now possesses the
property, under an interim preservation order that was issued in B.C.
Supreme Court.

Under the terms of the order, the province has an obligation to keep
the building safe and secure.

"We didn't want any rocks thrown to the sign or damage done," said the
spokesman.

The preservation order was recently extended to May 30.

A hearing will take place before that date to determine whether the
preservation order will carry through to a civil trial, at which the
province will try to prove the property has ties to criminal activity.
If successful, the property would be forfeited to the province.

No date has yet been set for a trial.