on top of legal heroin injection rooms.....and everything else wrong with crime in NSW.
the iemma LABOR party does this to citizens of NSW now.
Has Iemma given up on law? Article from: Font size: Decrease Increase Email article: Email Print article: Print Submit comment: Submit comment By Gemma Jones October 24, 2007 12:00am THOUSANDS of criminals who commit fraud, steal from shops and break into cars will escape with a fine so police can save time on paperwork, Premier Morris Iemma said yesterday.
In a month when the Government has failed dismally on public health and child protection, the Premier can now add law and order.
Mr Iemma announced to a community already stunned by the killing of two-year-old Dean Shillingsworth and the miscarriage scandal at Royal North Shore Hospital that he would now decriminalise serious offences.
Rather than face the full force of the law for a string of offences including fraud, shoplifting and breaking into vehicles, thieves will get a maximum $350 fine.
Adding further insult to victims, perpetrators will not have the offence recorded on their criminal history and any fingerprints taken will be destroyed if they pay the fine within 21 days.
"It will mean less police time wasted behind desks doing paperwork, providing more of the high visibility policing the community wants," Mr Iemma said.
However, Opposition police spokesman Michael Gallacher branded the idea absurd.
"I can light up a smoke on a railway station platform and get a $400 fine (but) if you break into somebody's car, you will cop a $250 fine," he said.
Under the scheme, more than 25,000 criminals responsible for minor fraud, larceny and unauthorised entry of cars and boats will be fined less than the penalty for littering.
Victims of street crime and small business owners yesterday vented their anger at a Government they accused of siding with criminals.
Criminologist Paul Wilson said the message the Government is sending to those who commit these crimes is: "This is not serious and don't worry if you get caught."
"I am all for keeping people out of prison, however I think it sends the wrong message for the offences of shoplifting, breaking into cars and fraud," Mr Wilson said.
"Going to court is important for those offences, both from the victim's perspective and also to show that breaking and entering offences, stealing offences and fraud are serious."
Mr Iemma said that from November 1 police will be able to issue an on-the-spot Criminal Infringement Notice for seven offences.
Decriminalising the offences will spare police the two hours it takes to charge a person plus time needed to see the matter through the courts.
The offences include shoplifting up to $300 worth of goods, breaking into cars, possession of stolen goods and offensive language.
