By Gemma Doherty
SYDNEY — In recent weeks in NSW, both major political parties have been trying to outdo each other in statements to the media about the "law and order" issue.
Premier Bob Carr's plan, announced last month, to help police tackle "gang" problems and knife attacks involves merging parts of the 1988 Summary Offences Act and the 1990 Crimes Act into a Police and Public Safety Bill. The Liberal opposition, in an effort to shore up its electoral support, has pledged that, if its win the next election, it will increase the number of police on the streets.
The popularity of this law and order push was, however, brought into question last week by the poor attendance at 90 public meetings on the issue held around NSW. The meetings were expected to attract 50,000 participants, but only 10,000 turned up.
The parts of the existing acts to be incorporated into Carr's new bill relate to individuals' possession of knives, and police powers to search people, move them on and demand identification.
However, the bill will include new dispersal powers. It will also outlaw the possession of knives by people under the age of 16, and for purposes other than food preparation and trading purposes.
It will also give police more power to stop and search people: the current precondition for searches of "reasonable suspicion" will be waived. This means that, if you are walking past a designated "knife and crime spot" in downtown Sydney, you could be forcibly searched by police using their hands and metal detectors, and even strip searched.
Police will have the power to demand any person's name and address. If this information is refused, the person can be apprehend without a warrant and is liable to six months' jail. An equivalent law has already been enacted in WA.
The new bill also gives the police wider ranging dispersal powers. A group of three or more individuals standing outside a public place can be asked to disperse by police if they believe: that a crime or breach of the peace is about to be committed, that the movement of pedestrians or vehicles is about to be obstructed, or that the safety of a person is in danger.
New law and order bills have been proposed on three occasions in the last three years. Each time they have been shelved due to well organised campaigns by justice and community groups and activists, many of them young people.
The proposed increased police powers will have the greatest impact on those people already at a disadvantage in their dealings with the police.
Young people, in particular Aboriginal and non-English speaking background youth, are already one of the most over policed groups. Already, around 80% of young people have some contact with the police at some time. For Aboriginal youth it is 95%, the result being a massive over-representation in jails and the legal system.
The proposed bill has therefore provoked widespread concern amongst youth rights organisations. Bernadette O'Reilly, children's solicitor at the Youth Justice Coalition, said: "The Police and Public Safety Bill is misguided; it fails to address the complex causes of crime such as homelessness, neglect, boredom and unemployment. The act fails to recognise complex social, economic and emotional factors facing young people and the community."
Copwatch is calling a protest rally and party at 1pm on May 23 in Town Hall Square. Telephone Kilty on 9281 5100 or Peter on 9514 2915.