Thank you very much for all your messages and for your interest in the launch of This World.

The comments published on this page reflect the balance of views we received.

Part of the HA code is "an attack on one is an attack on all", and they will act accordingly. By this logic it means that they must also take collective responsibility for the criminal behaviour of the few - something they are very reluctant to do. I've had some contact with English HA and with people who know them. The charity stuff is PR. They are not, collectively, nice people.
Rob, England

To be a member of this organisation is to be complicit in each and every atrocious act carried out in the name of the Hells Angels. As such, every self-respecting, non-violent biker must distance himself from the HAMC.
Alan T, Scotland

The programme was biased, did not differentiate between different clubs/types of clubs and could quite easily leave the viewer with the impression that when members of two bike clubs are in the same boozer as them they are likely to get killed in the crossfire. The potential damage done to organisations like ours by inaccurate sensationalist journalism of this type makes me shudder
Lemmy Kilmister, UK

Having family in Copenhagen and having witnessed the mindless violence there, I would remind those who would legitimise or ignore the actions of these gangs the saying: It is not one bad man who is responsible for the evil but, also all the good ones who do nothing to stop it.
Chris, England

The mafia and others do much worse things Nikolas, UK

I have never met any Hells Angels members, but I am sure there is far more to them as a group of people than what was shown. I am a great lover of biking and have ridden for many years without ever harming anyone. Compare the Hells Angels behaviour to that of our governments and the true villain of the peace will be exposed.
Jules, England

The outlaw bikers also have a saying: "What good I do no-one remembers, what bad I do no-one forgets." This applies to all bikers, not just Angels.
Shades, UK

I thought the programme pretty much covered what was valuable to making the Hells Angels look bad. I myself am a former Hells Angels so I felt a little bad that they were portrayed as the only bad guys in the world when the mafia and others do much worse things.
Nikolas, UK

I have worked abroad investigating outlaw motorcycle gangs and it is plain to see the Hells Angels are fundamentally premised on violence. The Hells Angels are no heroes representing the "free spirit" in all of us. They get kicks out of other people's misery.
David, UK

They are not, collectively, nice people Rob, England

I used to be a member of a motorcycle gang back in the 70s and early 80s. Yes there was violence, yes there was drugs, but I take exception to the BBC's portrayal of all motorcyclists as drug dealing thugs. Your programme was excellent but shouldn't have given the impression that all motorcyclists are drug-crazed killers.
N Keeling, UK

When I was 15-17, I went out with a man who lived at a Hells Angels clubhouse. I was always treated with respect, accepted for what I was, and had a lot of fun there. It's a shame people do not get to see the whole picture, good and bad.
Kim Foster, England

As a biker of some 34 years experience and having had contact with a few so-called outlaw motorcycle gangs, I am amazed at the naivety of people likely to believe the portrayal in this programme of the "Angels" as a group of saints. It should be apparent to any reasonable thinking person what would be going on in groups like these. Whether you support the ideals or not the Angels are always an impressive sight.
C Robertson, Scotland

Part of the HA code is "an attack on one is an attack on all", and they will act accordingly. By this logic it means that they must also take collective responsibility for the criminal behaviour of the few - something they are very reluctant to do. I've had some contact with English HA and with people who know them. The charity stuff is PR. They are not, collectively, nice people.
Rob, England

While the programme was very informative in showing the involvement of biker gangs in criminal activities, it did NOT do enough to explain that these gangs comprise only a minority of Harley Davidson riders, and that legitimate Harley Davidson Motorcycle club members are law-abiding citizens who enjoy riding together. It would be nice if you could consider making a programme showing the other side of the coin as we often do charity work and other fundraising events within our local communities. I fear this programme will turn public opinion against all Harley Davidson riders indiscriminately.
Mrs Josie Javelot-McNaughton, Bucks

There is a piece of angel spirit in all of us William Pitt, Scotland

I really enjoyed the programme. It was factual and largely came across as an unbiased view of what the Hells Angels represent. However even with the images and portrayal of the gangs, I found myself imagining what it would be like to be a Hells Angel and to wear the backpatches with the pride that they do. Is it because much of our daily lives is controlled by others, such as governments, taxes, employers, family commitments, peer pressure, pressure to conform and be successful? Could it be that the fantasy of living free and riding bikes, clouds the methods of having to fund such a lifestyle? Right or wrong I think the Hells Angels will always be tolerated by those of us not directly affected by them, because there is a piece of angel spirit in all of us.
William Pitt, Scotland

I have been involved in biking for many years and attended many rallies here and abroad, including Hells Angel events! I have only ever witnessed violence on one occasion and this was caused by NON BIKERS gatecrashing a party! Why are we all assumed to be illiterate, stupid, criminals? Why do the media portray us as gangsters, etc?
Splodge, Dorset

Your programme broadcast tonight makes extremely shocking viewing. I have met a few Angels at events in the UK, particularly during the Harley Davidson 100th Year Anniversary celebrations last year, none of whom appeared as a threat to me. However, all the evidence amassed on the US/Canadian chapters is very worrying to say the least. Your programme leads us to believe they are all gangsters and drug barons regardless of which country they are based in. If that is the case why have the UK police got so much confidence in the UK chapters that they even allow them to host the largest biker rally in the UK, unpoliced? There seem to be more questions than answers.
Abiola Owoaje, UK

This programme has really opened my mind to the darker side of the group Mrs Laura Douek, England

When I was a child we always went to the South of France and there used to be a group of Hells Angels there. My father and brother and I always admired the motorbikes they owned - usually Harley Davidsons. I never for one moment thought that their goings-on were as far-reaching and/or in-depth (and perhaps) in-bred. This programme has really opened my mind to the darker side of the group.
Mrs Laura Douek, England

This is an organisation run like an army, with presidents and foot soldiers, etc. It is obvious they run an international drug trafficking business and other criminal schemes. But, if they don't do it, somebody else will - Triads, Mafia, etc. Governments and companies are just as corrupt. At least these guys are openly dishonest. Don't mess with them, they won't mess with you.
Paul, UK

Great programme - I am a biker and LOVE my Harley but had a good job destroyed by the Hells Angel who took a dislike to me. He was a bully and threatened me and my family if I didn't leave him the run of the company. I wish the Devil would take them all back where they belong!
Mick

Although you did mention that there were only about 200 Hells Angels in the UK, it would have been nice if you had said that there are 1.5 million motorcyclists in the UK. This would have had the benefit of pointing out that most bikers have no involvement with the outlaw bike clubs.
Liz Needham, United Kingdom

This programme demonstrated what we already knew - men like to be part of a gang. The fact that they allegedly kill people, launder money and deal in drugs does not matter because it is a generic group that men can feel they belong to. I am sure that 95% of Hells Angels in Britain have no idea of the above, and the 5% that do would find some other way to express their hatred.
Graham

I have been in Weir's Beach and Laconia when 'bike week' happens. There is more violence and more road accidents at that time of the year than the rest of the year combined.
Mark, UK

Good programme, some interesting points raised. But isn't it all just media hype? OK, there may have been incidents of criminal activity. But isn't it tarring every one of such motorcycle clubs with the same brush? Most chapter members are honest and law-abiding. Most have homes and jobs, and do it for a good time and to meet new friends.
Dave Allen, England

Having just watched the programme, I was horrified at the level of violence and illegal activities undertaken by Hells Angels worldwide. I think that the European chapters, especially UK ones, are deluding themselves if they think they can distance themselves from their American counterparts. They all join up and agree to defend the honour of the Hells Angels and that can only mean a form of violence at some point in their "career". It would be interesting to see if any UK "Angel" could honestly say they had not committed any crime whilst being part of a chapter - yet.
Carolyn, UK

It was a real insight into the Hells Angels. It was a very good programme and brought a lot of information without being too boring or one-sided.
Andrew, England

I'm quite perturbed about what I saw on your programme this evening. Nothing whatsoever was told about the Hells Angels charity dealings (of which there are many). Not all money taken at the bike rallies is pooled for "covering charges for criminal cases" as it was shown to be. I'm not happy at all - and no, I'm not a girlfriend of a Hells Angel or anything to do with a motorcycle club, but I really don't like it when half-decent people are displayed ONLY as gangsters. It would have been better (slightly) if you had shown this side of the Hells Angels.
Louise George, UK