Body Cams a Win for the Police and the Public
NSW Police officers are to be equipped with “body cams”, lightweight video cameras that are clipped to officers’ uniforms when they are dealing with the public. This new initiative was announced recently by the NSW Government, and is expected to roll out...
Female Genital Mutilation Bill Passes NSW Parliament
The maximum penalty for performing female genital mutilation has been increased to 21 years’ imprisonment after the passing of a bill through NSW Parliament. Previously, the penalty for performing genital mutilation on females was a maximum of seven years in prison. A...
Creepware – The Latest Cyber Threat
Cyber crime is once again in the spotlight with a recent crackdown on computer hacking by the FBI in what has been termed their largest operation against cyber crime so far. The operation, which took place on a global scale,...
What is the Cannabis Cautioning Scheme?
If you have been charged with a drugs offence, the severity of the penalty you face will depend largely on the type and quantity of drug that you were allegedly found in possession of. Possessing cannabis may be treated less...
Police Search Powers Under a Firearms Prohibition Order in NSW
A recent amendment to the Firearms Prohibition Order in NSW has given police increased powers to search for and confiscate illegal firearms. The Firearms Amendment (Prohibition Orders) Bill was implemented in November 2013 in a bid to deter bikies and other criminal gang...
Is Spitting On Someone An Offence?
While there is no doubt that spitting on someone is impolite, you may have wondered whether or not it is an offence. Here’s what you need to know. The offence of common assault in NSW Yes, spitting on someone without...
Should Storing And Cooking Live Crustaceans Be Considered A Crime?
Australia produces about 230,000 tonnes of seafood per year and imports still more. It is a popular food all year round, even giving the Christmas turkey a run for its money. You’ve probably been inside or at least walked past...
Protesting and Obstructing Traffic: What Are My Rights?
Following the handing down of the controversial Abbott budget, protests have broken out around the country, with student groups featuring fairly prominently. One student group earned notoriety by trying to hijack Q&A with banners and chants the day before the...
The $7m Insider Trading Sting: Should Police Have Stopped It?
The Australia Federal Police (AFP) recently arrested a banker from Melbourne in an insider trading sting that resulted in $7 million in assets being seized. So what is insider trading? Exactly what happened in this case? And should authorities have intervened earlier...
Four Things You Probably Don’t Know Are Against the Law
If you’re an ordinary law-abiding citizen, chances are the possibility of committing a criminal offence never crosses your mind. After all, you know when you’re breaking the law, right? Well, if you’ve ever enjoyed playing in a fountain on a...
