Drug Testing of Police Officers: Police Policing Themselves
South Australian police officers will soon face the possibility of being drug and alcohol tested after ‘critical incidents’, such as when they use firearms or engage in high-speed pursuits. But there’s a catch: their police colleagues will need to suspect...
The Devastating Impact of Criminal Prosecutions
By Blake O’Connor and Ugur Nedim 37-year-old Ian Jeffrey Wells, a volunteer firefighter with the Rural Fire Service, says he is again being dragged before the courts after being acquitted in relation to a fatal crash in 2012. The case...
SCL Wins Criminal Defence Firm of the Year for Second Year Running
The SCL team is proud to be awarded ‘Criminal Defence Firm of the Year in Australia’ for the second year running. Global Law Experts is the world’s leading specialist online publication for locating legal professionals globally. In administering its yearly...
Another High-Speed Pursuit for Minor Offence Ends in Disaster
NSW Police Minister Tony Grant continues to deny there is a problem with our state’s current pursuit policy, after a 15-year-old boy sustained serious head injuries as a result of a high-speed police chase. The boy crashed into an oncoming...
Do I Look Good in This? Man Sentenced for Stealing Barristers’ Outfit
The CCTV footage shows a man dressed as a barrister walking along the corridors of Geelong Magistrates Court, which would not normally cause any concern. But the problem is, it is the middle of the night, and the man in...
Teen So Rich He Couldn’t Tell Right from Wrong, Judge Finds
An American teenager who popularised the ‘affluenza defence’ has been arrested for breaching his probation. In 2013, 16-year-old Ethan Couch was sentenced to 10 years’ probation after killing four people in a drink driving incident. During his sentencing hearing, Couch’s...
Police May Soon Conduct ‘Random Text Checks’
I don’t know about you, but to me the word ‘Textalyzer’ conjures up intimidating images of Arnold Schwarzenegger at his menacing best in ‘The Terminator’. In New York, road safety authorities are hoping that drivers who text will feel the...
The Silent Killer on our Roads
A friend of mine was in town recently and got a nasty surprise when pulled over by police and told to take a break, or face the prospect of a ticket for negligent driving due to his level of fatigue....
Police Keep Jobs Despite Committing Crimes
Police officers swear an oath to uphold and enforce the law, and many feel it is both hypocritical and damaging to the integrity of the force for officers to commit criminal offences during their period of service. Many also believe...
Is There a Need for Frequent Drug Testing Throughout the NSW Police Force?
Last week, we reported on the case of Tara Radford, a Queensland Police Officer who was caught at Stereosonic with a line of cocaine and half a tablet of ecstasy. Ms Radford was one of 139 people arrested over the course...
