Wednesday, 23 October 2013

Our looney laws !

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 !

No comments:

Post a Comment