Possession or Use of a Firearm: What Do Courts Look at During Sentencing?
Many of the offences relating to the possession or use of firearms in New South Wales are contained in the Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) (‘the Act’). The Act was introduced as part of a national campaign to strengthen gun control,...
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...
Eight Rounds in Eight Seconds: the Adler Is Coming to Australia
Date published: 7 March 2017 The Australian federal, state and territory governments have amended the National Firearms Agreement (NFA), but haven’t announced it to the public. Instead they recently posted the 2017 agreement on the attorney-general’s website. Neither George Brandis nor Australian justice...
Horrifying Footage of Axe Attack Goes Viral
CCTV footage of a blonde woman entering a convenience store and attacking two people with an axe has gone viral on social media. The horrifying footage shows the woman strolling into the 7-Eleven store in Enmore in Sydney’s inner-west wielding...
Off-duty police officer allegedly brandishes gun whilst drunk
Police officers are permitted to use their powers around the clock, whether or not they are on-duty. This means they can exercise powers of arrest and search, give move-on directions and even issue fines whilst they are off-duty. And while...
The Santa Claus Slayer: You Better Watch Out!
At 11:30pm on Christmas Eve, 2008, a man dressed as Santa Claus knocked on the door of a house in Covina: a small town 35 kilometres east of Los Angeles. An 8-year-old girl answered the door to find Santa holding...
To Adler or Not to Adler: the Rapid-Fire Shotgun Debate
A controversial ban on the eight-shot Adler A110 lever-action shotgun will remain in place, after state police ministers failed to reach a consensus on its reclassification last Friday. NSW police minister Troy Grant told the meeting that his state would...
Crime Figure Shoots Himself in Testicle
Smoking is a dangerous habit, just ask Omar Chaouk. The son of the late Melbourne underworld boss, Macchour Chaouk, accidentally shot himself in the right testicle when reaching into his pocket for a cigarette, firing his pistol instead. Omar Chaouk...
“Fragile” Police Officer Avoids Prosecution After Bashing Homeless Men
Last week, the South Australian Police Ombudsman called for a constable’s police powers to be revoked in the interests of public safety. The recommendation was made in a report about the officer’s conduct during a violent assault on 5 December...
NSW Police Carry Out Hundreds of Illegal Searches for Firearms
Last week, an ombudsman report revealed NSW police have carried out hundreds of unauthorised searches under increased powers that allow them to search individuals who’ve been served with a firearm prohibition order (FPO) without a warrant. The new search powers...
