Snorri Magnússon, chairman of the National Association of Policemen,
would like to see the Hells Angels patch – shown above – banned from
being worn in public, as a means of hindering the motorcycle club from
getting a foothold in Iceland.
“These men are predators, move in packs, and are nothing without their patches,” he told Morgunblaðið. Police estimate somehow that the Hells Angels will be firmly established in Iceland by autumn 2010, although they have provided no exact date or time for said establishment.
Magnússon believes a patch ban will result in a success for Iceland. However, similar bans in New Zealand and Canada have led to lengthy and expensive legal battles over the issues of freedom of speech. In Holland, attempts to ban the club outright have led to similar results, as the Hells Angels argued that they are not a gang but a motorcycle club.
In recent years the Hells Angels have been regarded as an organized crime syndicate. The Hells Angels have countered this by pointing to community service volunteer work that they’ve done in other countries. Icelandic police have already formed a special task force designed to stem organized crime, with an emphasis on motorcycle clubs.