Should Police be Held More Accountable for their Actions?
Police forces hold a position of responsibility in Australia. As they are responsible for ensuring that those in the general community live up to certain standards of behaviour and follow the law, it stands to reason that individual members of...
Is Crime on the Increase?
If you follow the news, it would appear that crime is an ever-increasing problem, particularly in cities, but how true is this? Is crime really increasing, or could it actually be on a downward trend? The increased coverage of crime...
The NSW Crimes Act: Computer Offences and Cyber Bullying
With the proliferation of new technology, computer crime in Australia is increasing both in scope and complexity. Most people regularly use a computer and mobile phone along with email and social media, and are exposed to the online world on...
New One-Punch Law in Force in NSW
Controversial new legislation surrounding one-punch sentencing is now law after being pushed through NSW Parliament late last month in a special sitting. The new legislation mandates a minimum sentence of eight years for a drug or alcohol-fuelled assault that results...
Do Mandatory Sentences Work?
The issue of mandatory sentencing has been in the media recently, with NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell announcing the proposed introduction of mandatory sentencing laws for alcohol-fueled one-punch attacks. Under the proposed new laws, defendants found guilty of fatal offences involving...
What the Law Says About “King Hit” Attacks
Our video and blog post below discusses what the law says about ‘king hit’ attacks. Alcohol-related violence has been in the media spotlight recently, particularly the growing number of king hit incidents - which some have called “coward punches” –...
How Can I Win an Assault Case?
Being charged with assault is a serious matter. Depending on the severity of the alleged offence you could find yourself facing a large fine, or even long-term imprisonment. Even if your assault charge is relatively minor, you could still find...
Is it a crime to threaten or intimidate someone?
Certain threats and acts of intimidation are considered to be serious criminal offences. For each of those offences, the prosecution must prove certain matters beyond reasonable doubt. Here’s what you need to know. The offence of staking or intimidation in...
Domestic Violence, AVOs and Tenancy Agreements
A common outcome of domestic violence and Apprehended Violence Orders (AVOs) is that the victim decides to permanently end the relationship with the perpetrator of the violence. It’s often the case that one or both of the parties holds a...
What Are The Penalties for Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm Charges?
Assault is a common offence under the Crimes Act and there are a number of different types of assault charges, all of which come with different penalties. If you are facing assault occasioning actual bodily harm charges, there are serious...
