Do You Trust The Criminal Justice System?
NSW residents are more confident that the criminal justice system brings those who are guilty to justice than they have been in years, according to a recent report released by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR). The...
Are Drug Driving Laws Fair?
NSW drivers are now facing an even greater chance of being drug tested, after police have linked crashes to drug use. And newer machines used to detect drugs in saliva samples are even more sensitive to drugs than older technology,...
What Powers Do NSW Police Special Constables Have?
Special constables have been part of the NSW Police Force since the 1700s, taking part in night watch patrols in Sydney from 1789. Over the years, the scope and range of policing duties expanded, and special constables became less widely...
How Should We Deal With the Rising Prison Population?
A report released last week shows that the NSW prison population is at a record high, with many prisons significantly overcrowded. And it seems that the problem will only worsen as the impact of the new amendments to the Bail...
Should Greyhound Racing be Banned?
Earlier this week, ABC’s Four Corners exposed the grisly reality of greyhound racing - a sport which attracts $1 billion in bets annually and helps fill the government’s coffers. Shockingly, live animals are being used as bait in a number...
Should it be compulsory to report animal cruelty?
You may have heard that the greyhound racing industry is in damage control after reports that many of its members have engaged in systematic animal cruelty, including physically abusing dogs and feeding live animals to them, which is known as...
Should a person ever be sterilised against their will?
If someone has an intellectual disability and could not take care of children, would it ever be justified to order their sterilisation? It’s a question that poses an ethical and moral dilemma; requiring a careful consideration of several competing interests....
Are Proceeds of Crime Laws Unfair?
We have penned a number of blogs over the years about proceeds of crime laws and the applicable penalties. Under section 193C of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), it is a criminal offence to possess or deal with property that...
Why are there ‘home-grown’ terrorists?
It was reported last week that a potential terrorist attack in Sydney was averted just hours before it was scheduled to occur. The suspects were allegedly apprehended just hours after purchasing a hunting knife and filming a video of their...
Police Ignorance of the Law – Should They Have More Legal Training?
Police are supposed to uphold and maintain the law, but a recent court case shows that in some instances, officers do not even understand the charges that they are pressing against members of the public. The misapplication of criminal charges...
