Can Police Secretly Record You?
The law says that police are required to record interviews that take place at the police station, unless it is not practical to do so. This requirement has been instrumental in tackling the problem of ‘verballing’ or fabricated confessions, which...
Should police be able to seize suspected proceeds of crime before a person is found guilty?
When it comes to seizing suspected proceeds of crime, tough new laws introduced in Victoria mean that police have the ability to seize all the assets of suspected persons, not just assets connected with criminal activity. To get hold of...
Countdown to Execution – Should Chan and Sukumaran be Saved?
The two Australians convicted of drug trafficking ten years ago now face imminent execution in Indonesia. Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran made the 700km journey to the execution island, where it is expected that their execution by firing squad...
Should We Get Rid Of Police Prosecutors?
If you have ever been to court for a criminal offence, you will have found yourself up against a prosecutor - who sits on the other end of the ‘bar table’ in court. Depending on the type of case, the...
Are our memories reliable?
During the course of a criminal hearing or trial, witnesses are frequently called to give evidence about what they saw, heard or otherwise perceived about an event. In the absence of other binding evidence, witness testimony can be the deciding...
Man Guilty of Sexual Assault after Pretending to be Someone Else
We recently published a blog looking at the law in NSW when it comes to getting sex by deception; which is where one person lies to another in order to engage in sexual relations with them. A Victorian case now...
Are Police Really Committed to Fighting Hate Crime?
Hate crime has been in the news recently with increased tensions arising out of reports of growing anti-Muslim sentiment among many Australians. International acts of terrorism, the reporting of the activities of ISIS, and the Sydney siege last year have...
Do We Need Specific Upskirting Laws in NSW?
The Australian Capital Territory has implemented specific laws to make upskirting and downblousing a criminal offence. The practice of upskirting and downblousing involves taking close-up photographs or film of a person’s private parts without their knowledge. Victims are usually female...
Can Police ‘Estimates of Speed’ Stand Up in Court?
We recently posted a blog about a truck driver who received a speeding ticket based upon a police officer’s ‘estimate of speed’. The officer in question declared himself to be an ‘expert’ at estimating speed. Many people could not believe...
Online Love Predators Raking in Millions
No doubt plenty of people were sent flowers and cards on Valentine’s Day earlier this month, but others may have received a less romantic surprise in the mail. Catfish fraud is the term used when a person assumes a fake...
