Police frustrated by ‘tap and go’ credit cards
Contactless payment systems are available at an increasing number of retailers, and make shopping faster and easier. ‘Tap and go’ credit and debit card systems are becoming incredibly popular in Australia, accounting for almost half of all face-to-face card transactions....
Are Special Domestic Violence Courts a Good Idea?
According to media reports, NSW Labor has promised to set up specialised domestic violence courts if the party is elected to power in the next state election. With much recent publicity surrounding the rates of domestic violence in Australia, police...
What Constitutes the Offence of Blackmail?
In 2011, one HSC student made headlines because an intruder into her family hope had strapped a device she was told was a bomb strapped to her neck in an attempt to blackmail her wealthy parents for money. The man...
What Happens if I Commit a Crime Overseas?
Breaking the law while overseas can still get you into trouble, even if you don’t know what the local law is! Just like in Australia, ignorance of the law is generally not an excuse. During a holiday in Thailand, an...
Previous Convictions for Gay Sex to be Expunged in NSW
Thirty years after the decriminalisation of homosexuality, those convicted under out-dated laws are going to be able to apply to have their convictions expunged. Victoria recently announced that it was going to remove all historic convictions from those who were...
Intensive Traffic Offenders Rehabilitation Program (TORP) – Now also at Parramatta
Being charged with a major traffic offence such as drink driving can be distressing, especially if it comes with a period of disqualification. But just because you’ve been charged with a traffic offence, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be convicted...
Do Serco Prisons Encourage Reoffending?
Being incarcerated is a serious penalty and although it is intended to act as a deterrent to crime, statistics from the Australian Institute of Criminology have shown that there is a strong rate of reoffending by inmates after they have...
Why are suspended sentences increasing the prison population?
Suspended sentences were reintroduced into NSW in the year 2000. A suspended sentence is actually a good behaviour bond under section 12 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999. You will only be eligible for a suspended sentence is you...
What is a Citizens Arrest?
When we think about someone being arrested, it’s usually by police or other law enforcement officers, but did you know that any member of the public is legally entitled to arrest someone else? Under NSW legislation, in certain circumstances, a...
The Fight Against Illegal Brothels: Sydney Councils Spying
Local councils in Sydney have reportedly gone to extreme measures to catch and close down unregulated brothels, including paying private investigators to accept sexual services. A number of private investigators are apparently regularly employed to go into suspected brothels which...
