Is it Legal to Carry Pepper Spray in Australia?
Everyone deserves the right to feel safe. If you walk home from your bus stop after work and the way is poorly lit, or if you live in a dodgy neighbourhood, you may feel that you face a real risk...
A Guide to Common Assault
A common assault is any unauthorised touching, or act that causes another to apprehend immediate unlawful violence. The offence of common assault is contained in section 61 of the Crimes Act 1900. To be found guilty of common assault, the prosecution will...
What Are The Different Offences Under Graffiti Laws in NSW?
This Blog post on the different offences under graffiti laws in NSW follows on from our post last week on the penalties for Graffiti. Graffiti is an ever-present problem, especially in urban areas, and it is an issue that frequently causes...
Committing Fraud by Obtaining a Financial Advantage
If you by deception or dishonestly obtain financial advantage from another person, or cause another person any financial disadvantage, you can be found guilty of the offence of fraud. The maximum penalty for this offence in NSW is 10 years’ imprisonment. While...
What are the Penalties for Graffiti?
Our Video and Blog post below gives an explanation of the offence of graffiti and the relevant penalties. What are the Penalties for Graffiti? Graffiti is a criminal offence under the Graffiti Control Act 2008. If you are caught marking property or...
A Guide to Indecent Assault Penalties
Have you been charged with indecent assault? There are a number of indecent assault penalties, ranging from avoiding a criminal conviction altogether by getting a ‘section 10 dismissal or conditional release order’ all the way up to a term in prison....
Is it Legal to Film People with a Smart Phone?
In today’s digital world, pretty much everyone has a smart phone with filming capability. Recordings can also be made available for public viewing on the internet within seconds. But is it legal to film people with a smart phone? The...
What Does the Law say About Filming Someone Without Their Consent?
The law regarding filming or videoing another individual is complex. Whether consent is required to film another person depends on who is filming, what is being filmed, where it is being filmed, and for what purpose. There are various state...
S58 of the Crimes Act: What Happens if I am Charged with Assaulting an Officer?
Assaulting a police officer or another type of official such as a customs officer, sheriff, or prison officer is an indictable offence. This means that it can be dealt with either in the local court before a magistrate, or in...
Is There a Statute of Limitations for Minor Offences in NSW?
Have you been charged with a summary offence which you allegedly committed months or even years in the past? If you have committed a criminal offence, there is sometimes a time limit for police to bring charges against you. If...
