After an epic struggle, firefighters saved the " Catho " pub at Catherine Hill Bay. The grateful publican shouted the Firies a free beer - and this earned him a visit from a licensing squad officer and a reprimand that he had breached the " Responsible serving of alcohol " law.
The outcry against this insensitive reaction to a great Australian tradition of saying " thanks " seems to have influenced the licensing people to respond by saying that there will be " no further action ".
On the other side of the legal wall, statistics show that there has been a vast reduction in the numbers of offenders " cuffed and charged ". The LEPRA law - standing for " Law Enforcement Powers and Responsibility " - forces police to use an alternative " Paper arrest " - in which the person caught committing a crime is merely served with a " Court attendance " order. This still stands as an " arrest " as far as statistics are concerned.
Unfortunately, it also makes the prosecutors job much harder if the case goes to court. The offender has not been finger printed or photographed - or subjected to an official interview at a police station. It opens up many avenues for the defence - and it emboldens offenders to continue breaking the law.
We are seeing a vast new challenge from bikie elements and Queensland has brought law enforcement into focus with draconian new powers. A law imbalance between this state and it's neighbour is likely to see criminal bikies scuttling over the border to avoid harsher crime laws, thus enhancing crime in this state.
Perhaps a good time for all the states to get together - and draft national laws to meet the bikie challenge on a united front. The present disparity simply plays into the hands of the law breakers !
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