Top DNA Analyst Sacked for Allegedly Fabricating Records
DNA evidence has become an increasingly important component of criminal investigations and prosecutions since its use became widespread in the 1990s. Today, police around the country can access the National Criminal Investigation DNA database, which contains the DNA profiles of hundreds of...
Casual Conversations Do Not Amount to Consorting
Since their enactment in 2012, the use of consorting laws by NSW police has come under significant scrutiny. The consorting law legislation was introduced into parliament by the O’Farrell government, ostensibly in response to rising gun violence attributed to motorcycle club members and organised...
RIP Government Accountability in Australia: A Privacy Guide for Journalists
With the scope of online and telecommunications surveillance today, it seems we’re very much living in an Orwellian age. Last week, the complete version of the Australian government’s mandatory metadata regime came into effect. Although the data retention laws were enacted on October 13,...
Dangerous Driving and the Law
Driving charges are some of the most commonly heard matters in New South Wales Local Courts. Whether it’s drink driving (DUI or P.C.A.), speeding or a case involving serious harm, tens of thousands of driving cases end up before magistrates...
Government Lies About Metadata Scheme
As we all were preparing for the Easter break, the government switched on the full version of its metadata retention system. Although the legislation enabling the scheme was passed in October 2015 – and data has been stored and accessed...
Abuse of Children in Australian Detention Centres Continues
Fifteen youths are still being detained on remand (ie with their cases yet to be heard) at Victoria’s Barwon maximum security adult prison on the outskirts of Geelong in a move the Victorian Supreme Court ruled unlawful in December last year. The...
NSW Lawyer Steals Over $300,000 From Clients
Another NSW lawyer has been struck off the roll of legal practitioners. Although, it’s not a common occurrence, there are lawyers who breach their professional obligations and commit serious offences against their very own clients. And when it does happen, the...
The Hypocrisy Surrounding US Airstrikes in Syria
The US military airstrike targeting the government-controlled Shayrat airbase in Syria last Thursday night has raised questions as to motivations of US president Donald Trump ordering the attack. The president did not seek congressional approval for the strike, which comprised 59...
NSW Crimes Rates are the Lowest in 40 Years
Crime rates across NSW have dropped to their lowest in 40 years. The latest annual report by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) has found that most major categories of crime have fallen or remained steady over...
Police Powers to Stop, Require Identification and Search in NSW
Being confronted on the street or pulled over by a police officer can be a nerve-wracking experience. Even if you haven’t done anything wrong, you may feel concerned and anxious about how the situation will pan out, or even worried...
