[Greens-Media] MEDIA: Guns n' Moses push through punitive graffiti laws

[David Shoebridge]

Guns n' Moses push through punitive graffiti laws
Media Release – 21 Aug 2012
Graffiti legislation which has been held up in the NSW Parliament for
almost a year will now become law following the government supporting an
amendment by the Shooters Party, which only marginally improves punitive
legislation according to Greens NSW MP David Shoebridge.
 
"This legislation will push young people needlessly into the justice
system, and have little if any effect on graffiti crime," Mr Shoebridge
said.
 
The government's bill removes police discretion to give first offenders
a caution. Police can now either send young offenders to court, or let
them go.
 
"No evidence has been produced to suggest that sending young people
before the courts will reduce the amount of problem graffiti in our
communities
 
"In fact, evidence shows that sending young people into the justice
system increases the chance of re-offending. We're likely now to see
even more young people in correctional centres in NSW.
 
"With a rate of gaoling juveniles four times that of Victoria, NSW is
already failing in the area of juvenile justice. This legislation is a
further step backwards.
 
"This law takes graffiti control backwards because many young people
will be let off with no action at all with police not wanting to waste
their time and resources taking all first offenders to court.
 
"We will also see a raft of first time minor offenders going to court,
chewing up scarce legal resources and getting a criminal record when a
police caution would have been smarter and cheaper.
 
"Removing the provision which would have seen young people lose their
drivers license for graffiti offences is a small improvement to bad
legislation.
 
"For a real solution to graffiti crime, Premier O'Farrell would do well
to take a short break from attacking local government and look at
councils like Leichhardt who have progressive community-based graffiti
programs that work," Mr Shoebridge said.
 
Media contact: Mark Ribolid 9230 3030 | 0433 753 376
 
Read more about the laws here:
http://davidshoebridge.org.au/2011/08/25/ofarrells-ineffective-graffiti-legislation/

 
David Shoebridge
Greens MP in the NSW Legislative Council
P: (02) 9230 3030 |Media: 0433 753 376 |T: @ShoebridgeMLC (
http://twitter.com/#!/shoebridgemlc )
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