Perth bikies: Top cop Col Blanch questions why anyone would want to join a bikie gang

WA’s top cop has questioned why anyone would want to become a bikie boss amid revelations the Rebels gang is still without a leader — more than six weeks on from the death of head honcho Jamie Ginn. Ginn, 50, was arrested on October 10 by the gang crime squad over drug and weapons offences and was taken to the Perth Watch House to face court the next day. He was later observed having a suspected seizure in his cell and was given urgent medical attention but could not be saved. His death is being treated as non-suspicious. As reported by The West Australian, sources familiar with the inner workings of the Rebels have said the outlaw club is yet to elect a new president, leaving them with no one to formally direct club business. Ginn had only been elected to the role shortly before he died. On Wednesday morning, WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch questioned why anyone would want to take on a leadership role of an outlaw bikie gang, adding that whoever took it on would feel the full weight of the law. “Leading an outlaw motorcycle gang today, why would you want to do that?,” he said. “There’s some pretty powerful laws in this State and you are immediately bringing your family and friends and associates under intense scrutiny, and not only yourself. “Why would you do that?” “Go and do something that is useful because you are basically asking for the full weight of the law to come after you and I think that’s probably why you’ve seen such a churn at the top of these clubs and a reluctance to step up.” As also reported by The West, an autopsy on Ginn’s body — carried out soon after the Rebels boss died — failed to shed any new light on what may have contributed to his death. Investigators had hoped to get a clearer indication of what caused the 50-year-old to become die — but the post-mortem was inconclusive. Further tests and results are now pending. Ginn’s funeral was held on November 17, with heavily armed officers from the gang crime squad watching on. And although police imposed a long list of rules on those attending the funeral, there were no incidents.