Re last week’s headline in the Sentinel-Times ‘Invaded and angry’.
TO DATE, there has been little to no action by the government in regard to the crime rate in Victoria. The amount of thefts, assaults, break-ins continues to grow and there is little or no acknowledgment of how the community feels.
We need the government to acknowledge the community’s concerns and stand up and act. No one should feel unsafe in their own home. People should feel safe doing their grocery shopping and getting into their vehicles. People should feel safe, full stop.
The system is broken. People are not safe at work. People are not safe in their homes. People are scared to go shopping or do recreational activities. This is unacceptable in Bass Coast and Victoria.
Change MUST be made.
Importantly, the rights of offenders must also not outweigh the rights of the victims.
Declan’s Law and Jack’s Law have already passed in other states and have examined and advocated for the following:
• Tighten bail laws around offenders charged with alleged aggravated assault, and even if a first offence, it requires bail conversation with a judge to assess the circumstances.
• Tighten laws around what constitutes a deadly weapon.
• Police powers to increase, trial metal wanding following Jack’s Law in QLD, and give powers of confiscation and charging for going armed in public.
• Early access programs to identify at risk youth and engage them in positive and skill-based programs as well as education.
• Increase the funding required to cover new facilities, staffing, programs.
• Increase funding for First Line Emergency Services - Police, Paramedics, Firefighters.
• Increase training and powers for security guards, and
• Look at other ways to decrease alcohol fuelled crime.
And now we hear that victims of youth crime would be explicitly banned from having a say over whether young offenders including murderers and rapists are released on parole under reforms to the youth justice system.
Rob Parsons, The Gurdies
Editor: This letter has been edited.
