It's a sad day when Melbourne is now known as the holiday destination of choice for Australia's outlaw motorcycle gangs

Hells Angels, will ride into Melbourne on Saturday.Gang members are expected to party in the city's night precincts near where former member Christopher Hudson went on a shooting rampage in July 2007. Sources have told the Herald Sun up to 200 of the gang's members will be on the streets in its first show of force since Hudson shot three people, killing father of three Brendan Keilar. Bikies from NSW began arriving at a Preston hotel yesterday, ready for the event. Police Det-Supt Paul Hollowood said Angels East County branch sergeant-at-arms Peter Hewat had promised there would be no violence. Det-Supt Hollowood said it was not the main national run and a smaller convoy of riders was expected in the city. "If you're talking of numbers of upwards of 200, our understanding is it will be a run but not a large one," he said. "We are aware of what they are doing and where they are going.
"We have been given assurances it will be peaceful. It's during these runs that bikie groups behave at their best." He confirmed police would not be giving gang members an escort into the city, as the force did in October when the Bandidos rode in convoy from Geelong to the CBD. It's expected bikies will ride from the East County chapter in Craigieburn, around the peninsula and into the city. Dutch backpacker Paul de Waard, who was one of three people shot during Hudson's shooting rampage at the corner of William St and Flinders Lane in 2007, said he was not opposed to bikies descending on the city. "I know a lot of Australians must hate bikies because of what they do," he said. "But I know it was Chris Hudson who was the one who did it." Jim Douglas, the father of shooting victim Kaera Douglas, also said he did not care where the bikies rode. It is expected the gang will hit bars and strip clubs in the CBD but it is not known if they have booked a hotel in the city. It is also not known if any surveillance will be in place. Police Association secretary Greg Davies, who is opposed to police escorts for bikies, said large numbers of bikies were an intimidating sight. "It's a sad day when Melbourne is now known as the holiday destination of choice for Australia's outlaw motorcycle gangs," he said. "When the Hells Angels are given the keys to the city, just like their adversaries the Bandidos, you don't know what to expect. "An increased police presence is absolutely necessary. Whether numbers are available is another question. "We can only hope the police force has used all their intelligence resources to be ready for any eventuality that may arise." Bikie violence has escalated in the past three years. In the latest turf war break-out, Bandidos enforcer Ross Brand was shot dead outside their Geelong clubhouse last October 22. Three men have been charged with murder. The Angels are probably the most commercial outlaw bikie outfit in the world. They are widely credited with bringing amphetamines to Australia after Angel Peter John Hill brought back the recipe from club counterparts in Oakland, California, in the 1980s.