Once of the most useful tools in the police arsenal has been the power to order people to " move on " and not remain in a nominated area for a given period of time.
Now the New South Wales Attorney General, John Hatzistergos has approved restrictions that will limit this power. Police will have to consider the availability of public transport and the time such an order can be enforced will be limited to just twenty-four hours.
This seems totally illogical. It is aimed at drug users and drug pushers, but surely it will also apply to drunks exiting clubs and pubs in the wee small hours of the morning, and prostitutes soliciting in tourist areas.
The " move on " law has enabled police to prevent trouble before it starts. Before punches start to be thrown and before acrimony gets out of hand the belligerents are separated and tempers cool.
If this law is neutered there will be an increase in " incidents " leading to arrests, more injuries to police, and our streets will not be a safer place for ordinary law abiding citizens.
The amazing thing is that there is no suggestion of police abusing this power. In fact, the Attorney General refuses to comment on the reason for the law change, not what he hopes it to achieve.
Strange are the ways of the bureaucracy - and even stranger the reasons for their decisions !
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