Systemic Abuse of Children in NT Detention
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced a Royal Commission into the abuse of children at the old Don Dale detention facility in Berrimah, outside Darwin. The inhumane practices were publicised to the nation by the ABC’s Four Corners Program, although...
Suing Police for Assault, False Imprisonment or Malicious Prosecution
Where police act outside their powers, it may be possible to bring civil proceedings for damages arising from assault, false imprisonment or malicious prosecution. In these types of cases, it is often helpful - although not always necessary - for...
‘Krokodil’ Coming to Australia
The terrifying flesh-eating drug ‘krokodil’ looks set to enter the Sydney market. NSW Police have issued warnings over its dangers, following the ravaging effects of the drug on users in Russia and the US (see images here). What is Krokodil?...
To Bail, or Not to Bail?
A Queensland father was released on conditional bail yesterday, after being charged with the sexual assault of a Korean national in Caboolture, north of Brisbane. Police allege the 23-year old man stalked the woman at Morayfield shopping centre before attacking...
DPP Presses Charges Against Police for Assault and Cover-Up
Two Melbourne police officers have been charged with ‘attempting to pervert the course of justice’ in a ruling by the Victorian Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The ruling by the DPP overturns a decision by the Victorian...
Police Blitz on ‘Lane Hogging” – Cash Grab or Road Safety Measure?
One Wednesday, 14 July, police issued more than 170 fines to motorists who didn’t ‘keep to the left’ on some of our busiest roads and motorways, including the M4, M5 and M7. During the crackdown, called Operation Compliance Two, each...
Overcoming the Bail Act’s ‘Show Cause’ Test
The Bail Amendment Bill 2014 introduced important changes to the existing bail regime in New South Wales. Most significantly, the amendments brought-in what are referred to as the ‘show cause’ provisions. The amended bail legislation, through the insertion of Section...
The Effect of CCTV on Crime
The installation of CCTV cameras is often seen as a sure-fire way of reducing criminal activity at a particular location. However, a growing body of research suggests CCTV may not be as effective as previously thought at deterring and solving...
PokemonGo Used to Commit Robbery
A number Missouri teenagers are alleged to have used the popular PokémonGo smartphone app to lure a dozen victims into secluded areas before robbing them. Three teenagers have been charged so far with robbery and ‘armed criminal action’, and a...
Australians Demand a Federal Corruption Watchdog
The recent conviction of former Labor Minister Eddie Obeid for ‘misconduct in public office’ has bolstered the push for a Commonwealth corruption watchdog, with power to investigate misconduct at a federal level. Lows and Highs of NSW ICAC The NSW...
