Bullying and Harassment Rife Within the AFP
Former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, who conducted an investigation into the Australian Defence Force in 2011, has released her report into bullying and harassment within the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Ms Broderick’s investigation, commissioned by AFP Chief Andrew Colvin,...
Restorative Justice – Does It Really Work?
If you had been physically or sexually assaulted, would you ever consider facing the person who assaulted you to tell them how the incident had impacted upon your life? Such a situation might seem confronting, but for some it offers...
Is Being Aggressive Illegal?
An Australian man flying home from Chile last October had an unexpected layover in New Zealand after he was charged with indecent assault and threatening to kill over allegedly becoming drunk and aggressive towards flight staff. While Qantas has a...
Do People Lie About Sexual Assault?
Incidents of sexual assault have been widely publicised in the media following a number of high-profile cases, including that of Kings Cross nightclub heir Luke Lazarus. Data published in 2014 indicates that Australia has a huge problem with sexual assault...
Do We Need Specific Upskirting Laws in NSW?
The Australian Capital Territory has implemented specific laws to make upskirting and downblousing a criminal offence. The practice of upskirting and downblousing involves taking close-up photographs or film of a person’s private parts without their knowledge. Victims are usually female...
Citizens Catching Criminals: A Good Or Bad Thing? The Tinder Experiment
There’s no doubt that the increased use of technology in our everyday lives has in many ways been a good thing. It’s now easier and faster than ever before to shop online, catch up with friends and take care of...
What To Do About Being Wrongly Charged with Indecent Assault
Being charged with any offence can be extremely distressing, especially if you know you aren’t guilty. The stigma of being charged with a sexual offence like indecent assault can make the experience even more upsetting and stressful. If you have...
NSW Criminal Court Statistics – News and Trends
The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR) has recently released a summary of crime statistics for the March 2014 quarter. This report shows a number of interesting trends in criminal activity, sentencing and time taken to finalise court...
Child Sexual Assault and the Statute of Limitations in Australia
There is no specific statute of limitations in Australia for criminal offences. However, there are rules that prevent many less-serious offences from being charged long after the incident. For example, police in NSW will not normally be allowed to press...
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....
